New system for purchasing tickets
To make it easier for you to choose the best ticket for you and your journey, we launched a new system for purchasing tickets via the website in December. From April 2025, this new system will also be available in the app. On this page, we'll tell you how it works.
✨♻️ New user experience, same products
Suppose you're purchasing a ticket for yourself. All you need to do is provide your age, departure station, destination, and any discounts you may be eligible for. We'll display the best options along with the total price, and you make the final choice. You remain in control, you just don't have to search for the best offers anymore.
Can't decide between two options? With just one click, you can view the travel conditions for each suggested ticket.
📱The changes in the app
In the app, you can easily buy your tickets, supplements or season tickets as before. Only now it's like on the website; we show you the best options based on your age, departure, destination or discount.
All your valid tickets, Multi and Flex Abonnement remain available in the app, under ‘My Purchases’.
🚉 Traveling from station to station - it just makes sense, right?
If you're traveling to a zone, we now ask for your exact departure and arrival stations rather than the zone.
🎫 One ticket per journey
Once you complete your online purchase, you'll receive your tickets as before: on your screen, in your email inbox, or on your eID. What's new? You'll get one ticket for each trip. So, for a round trip, this means you'll receive two tickets.
🎟️ Specific tickets via the previous purchasing process
Certain specific products like the Discovery Ticket, Bravo! Ticket, Event Train Ticket, or Youth Holidays are still bought via the previous purchasing process. For instance, if you'd like to combine a Standard Ticket with a Youth Holidays, you'll need to purchase them separately since they follow different processes on the website. Monthly Season Tickets remain unchanged.
📱 What about the vending machines?
Vending machines will follow before the end of the year.
What actually changes for ...
Senior Ticket
💡What's new?
Buy in 3 simple steps:
- Select your departure and arrival stations
- Indicate who is traveling (age category, discounts)
- Choose the option that works best for you. For instance, if you're using a Senior Ticket on weekdays, travel after 9 AM. For short distances, other offers might be more affordable than the Senior Ticket, and the system will suggest these automatically.
1 round-trip ticket becomes 1 ticket per journey
You'll receive 1 ticket per journey when you purchase a Senior Ticket. Whether you choose a one-way or round-trip ticket, the price remains the same: €8.50 in total. This is because a Senior Ticket always covers a round trip.
Examples:
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Traveling to Brussels Airport (Zaventem) with one or two supplements
If you're making a round trip to Brussels Airport ont he same day, we will now automatically include 2 Brussels Airport Supplements in your ticket, instead of just 1. You no longer need to add the second supplement manually. For a one-way ticket, only 1 Brussels Airport Supplement will be added to your Senior Ticket. However, the price remains the same as for a round trip.
✅ What doesn't change? The price and travel conditions.
A train journey for €8.50 is available after 9 AM.
From Monday to Friday after 9 AM and all weekend, the trains are quieter, ensuring a more comfortable journey. These are the times when you can travel with a Senior Ticket.
"Not much changes, really. I can still travel affordably, just like before, after 9 AM on weekdays and all weekend. The only difference is that I now receive one ticket per trip and no longer need to add supplements when traveling to the airport."
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! The price and travel conditions of the Senior Ticket stay the same as today: €8.50 for a one-way or round trip, available from 9 AM on weekdays and anytime on weekends.
Just a quick reminder: with our new sales system, you’ll receive one ticket per journey. So, for a round trip, you'll get 2 tickets.
Charleroi Airport
💡 What's new?
The combined ticket for Charleroi-Central + TEC bus to the airport is being phased out. You can travel from Charleroi-Central, Luttre or Fleurus, which may be quicker and/or more affordable than before. Add the TEC Charleroi Airport supplement, and the bus will take you from your chosen station to the airport.
Buy in 3 simple steps
- Plan your trip to the airport. Charleroi Airport station is now listed as Charleroi Airport TEC in the planner. We automatically show you the best possible route: via Charleroi-Central, Luttre or Fleurus.
- Select your destination station and choose your train ticket (the price shown here is for the train journey only).
- Add the "TEC Charleroi Airport" supplement to your shopping cart to continue your journey by bus from the station to the airport.
All the information you need to get to Charleroi Airport.
Large families
💡 What's new?
- There is only one rate for the Large Family Discount Ticket, with no need to choose from different codes. When you specify who is traveling during your booking, simply select the Large Family discount, and the correct fare will be applied automatically.
- Is your child under 12 traveling alone in first class? You simply buy a first-class supplement instead of a -50% ticket.
Good to know: At our vending machines, everything remains as it was: you still have to select a Large Family ticket there.
✅ What doesn't change?
If you're a family with 3 or more children, you can still enjoy discounted travel. There’s no change at our ticket vending machines or in the SNCB app: simply select the Large Family ticket as usual.
Preferrential Reimbursement
💡 What's new?
To receive the "Preferrential Reimbursement" discount on your train ticket, simply indicate who is traveling and whether you are eligible for the "Preferrential Reimbursement" fare during the booking process. The discount will be automatically applied to your selected ticket.
Good to know : Nothing will change at our vending machines. You can still purchase a ticket with the Preferrential Reimbursement discount.
✅ What doesn't change?
As a traveler with a limited income or a higher healthcare allowance, you still get a discount on your train ticket.
Nothing changes at our vending machines: you can still select the Preferrential Reimbursement ticket.
Pet supplement
💡What's new?
If you frequently travel with your pet, you know that in some cases, your pet also needs a ticket.
- To simplify the purchasing process, you will always need to buy a Pet Supplement (available under the extra options during the purchase process).
- It is no longer possible to add your pet to your Local Multi or 10 same journey card.
