Ticket inspections and On-board Fare

During an on-board ticket inspection, the train conductor checks the tickets (paper and electronic versions) of all of the passengers. When he or she appears, show him or her your ticket right away. If you or one of the people you’re travelling with has a reduced fare ticket, make sure you also have the documents entitling them to the reduction ready.

You must buy your ticket before boarding the train through one of our different sales channels: website, SNCB-NMBS app, ticket vending machine or at the ticket counter.

If you board the train without a valid ticket, or if you have a valid ticket but are unable to prove it, the train conductor will have to issue a statement of irregularity (C170) for the fixed price of €90.

You will be allowed to continue your journey, but you must pay this penalty notice within 14 days.

There are three ways to do this:

1. scan the QR code on the statement of irregularity to pay it online
2. scan the QR code at a ticket vending machine (and pay immediately by card)
3. go to a ticket counter.

So avoid fines and travel with a valid ticket!

In some cases, it is possible to be reimbursed for a statement of irregularity:

• If you think that you were prevented from buying a ticket before boarding for legitimate reasons, you can contact the Customer Service in view of getting the €90 statement of irregularity cancelled. But you will have to pay the actual ticket fare, as well as any administrative fees.
• If you had a valid ticket but were unable to present it at the ticket inspection, you will have 14 calendar days (from the inspection date) to present your ticket or season ticket, valid on the inspection date in question, at a ticket counter of your choice, along with the statement of irregularity issued during the ticket inspection, to have your €90 fine cancelled at no cost.

Note that the €90 supplement will not apply in the case of:

• products not available at a ticket vending machine;
• boarding the train at a stop without a ticket counter or vending machine;
• boarding the train at a stop where the conductor’s ticket machine indicates that the vending machine is out of order;
• Brussels Airport Supplement (Diabolo) for Brussels Airport – Zaventem;
• tickets departing from Maastricht, Maastricht Randwyck, Eijsden, Aachen and departing from or arriving at Lille and any Luxembourg stations.

In these cases, you only have to pay the actual ticket fare. Should a supplement be applied regardless (e.g. in the event of an out-of-order vending machine not flagged by the conductor’s sales system), please contact the Customer Service via this contact form.