No more on-board cash payments for SNCB tickets from May

Rail commuters in Belgium will no longer be able to pay for their tickets in cash aboard SNCB trains, as part of the national railway company’s push to digitise its services.

From 1 May, it will only be possible to purchase tickets from conductors in cash if the SNCB's digital ticketing services have broken down.

SNCB spokeswoman Véronique Piraux told La Libre Belgique that the new rule follows “a broad societal trend towards digitisation and electronic payments”.

She added that the change was also being made for security reasons, as it would no longer be necessary for conductors to carry cash while working.

The move follows similar moves by other public transport operators including Stib and De Lijn.