Organisers satisfied with Brussels waterbus

The company operating the Brussels waterbus plying the canal between the port and the city of Vilvoorde have said they are satisfied with the results of the service, which closed down for the winter at the weekend.

However while the company was hoping to break into the commuter market, most of the passengers – a total of 7,800, or an average of 20 per boot-trip – were tourists. The timing of the twice-weekly service, together with the length of the journey, were identified as problem areas for commuters when the service was launched in July. The boats started running at 08.30, ending at 17.00, and the full trip from terminus to terminus took 82 minutes.

“There was a mixed group of users,” said Guido Moens of the operating company. “Tourists and cyclists, but also people from Laeken going to Brussels Beach, and people trying it out for going to and from work. We were lucky with the weather, and we had no other problems. All of our expectations were met.”

The service resumes in May, with the possible addition of another day of operation, as well as a faster route.