Validity and restrictions
Ordinary single or return travel tickets are valid:
- on the date indicated;
- at the specified time slot (all day, peak or off-peak hours)
- for a specified journey;
- in the requested travel class.
In the case of a return journey, the outgoing leg should always be completed before the return leg. Return journeys must be completed before train services are suspended for the night.
Most season tickets are loaded onto your personal MoBIB card. You can check the validity period of your season ticket in your My SNCB account and at the ticket vending machines at the station.
Season tickets that are still in paper format, such as the Student Multi, comprise:
- a plastic photocard with the season ticket holder’s photo and personal information;
- a validation ticket stating the travel validity period, and 10 pre-printed journeys to be filled in before each journey.
For Passes that are still in paper format, such as the Standard Multi and the Youth Multi, you simply have to fill in a line in your Pass, chronologically per journey: the day and date of your journey, as well as the full name of your departure and destination station in letters only. If you make a mistake, start again on a new line. Non-compliant entries, crossed out entries, overwriting, or any traces of deletion, rubbing out or other forms of removal invalidate the filled-in line.
What happens if you travel without a valid ticket?
You must always buy your ticket before boarding the train.
If you travel without a valid ticket or on an expired season ticket:
- The train conductor will issue a statement of Irregularity for an amount of €90. You can always appeal to the Customer Service if you believe your were prevented from presenting a valid ticket for legitimate reasons.
If you have forgotten your season ticket:
- the chiefboard will issue a statement of Irregularity of an amount of €90. You should then go to the ticket counter of your choice with the statement of irregularity and your season ticket, valid on the date the statement was issued, within 14 calendar days (inclusive of the date the statement was issued). The statement of Irregularity will be closed. You will not have to pay €90.
Specific terms of use will always appear on your ticket. These may include:
- a restriction on the departure time and/or days of use;
- a restriction on the passenger category;
- a restriction related to the passenger’s age.
Tickets bought on our website, the SNCB App or season tickets are always personalised and cannot be transferred to another person. Please make sure you are able to provide proof of ID at the ticket inspection onboard the train.
- Off-peak hours: boarding Monday to Friday from midnight to 6 a.m., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to midnight
- Peak hours: boarding departing Monday to Friday from 6.01am to 8.59am, and from 4.01pm to 5.59pm.
- Weekends (Saturday and Sunday): all-day boarding.
- Public holidays: all-day boarding.
If your journey is constituted of several connecting trains, it is the first leg of your journey that determines whether the “Off-peak” or “Anytime” fare applies.
You must respect the stations indicated on your ticket. Therefore, with a ticket, it is not permitted to interrupt your journey and continue it later.
Connections are of course still permitted as suggested by the journey planner.
A zone is a number of stations and/or stops grouped in one tariff point.
- Aalst zone: Aalst, Aalst-Kerrebroek, Erembodegem
- Antwerp zone: Antwerp-Berchem, Antwerp-Centraal, Antwerp-Dam, Antwerp-Luchtbal, Antwerp-Noorderdokken, Antwerp-Oost, Antwerp-Zuid
- Bruges zone: Bruges, Bruges-Sint-Pieters
- Brussels zone (= Zone Brupass): Arcades, Anderlecht, Berchem-Ste-Agathe, Bockstael, Boitsfort, Boondael, Bordet, Brussels-Central, Brussels-Chapelle, Brussels-Congress, Brussels-Luxembourg, Brussels-Midi, Brussels-Nord, Brussels-Ouest, Brussels-Schuman, Delta, Etterbeek, Evere, Forest-Est, Forest-Midi, Germoir, Haren, Haren-Sud, Jette, Meiser, Mérode, Moensberg, Schaerbeek, Simonis, St-Job, Tour et Taxis, Uccle-Calevoet, Uccle-Stalle, Vivier d’Oie, Watermael
- Brupass XL zone: Anderlecht, Arcades, Beersel, Berchem-Ste-Agathe, Bockstael, Boitsfort, Boondael, Bordet, Brussels-Central, Brussels-Chapelle, Brussels-Congress, Brussels-Luxembourg, Brussels-Midi, Brussels-North, Brussels-West, Brussels-Schuman, Buda, De Hoek, Delta, Diegem, Dilbeek, Etterbeek, Evere, Forest-Est, Forest-Midi, Germoir, Groenendael, Groot-Bijgaarden, Haren, Haren-Sud, Hoeilaart, Holleken, Linkebeek, Lot, Jette, Meiser, Mérode, Moensberg, Nossegem, Ruisbroek, Schaerbeek, Simonis, Rhode-Saint-Genèse, Sint-Martens-Bodegem, St-Job, Tour et Taxis, Uccle-Calevoet, Uccle-Stalle, Vilvoorde, Vivier d'Oie, Watermael, Zaventem, Zellik
- Charleroi zone: Charleroi-Ouest, Charleroi-Central, Couillet, Lodelinsart, Marchienne-au-Pont, Marchienne-Zone
- Denderleeuw zone: Denderleeuw, Iddergem, Welle
- Dendermonde zone: Dendermonde, Sint-Gillis
- Ghent zone: Drongen, Gentbrugge, Ghent-Dampoort, Ghent-Sint-Pieters, Wondelgem
- Halle zone: Buizingen, Halle, Lembeek
- Hasselt zone: Hasselt, Kiewit
- Huy zone: Huy, Statte
- Knokke zone: Duinbergen, Heist, Knokke
- La Louvière zone: Bracquegnies, La Louvière-Centre, La Louvière-Sud
- Leuven zone: Heverlee, Leuven
- Liège zone: Angleur, Bressoux, Chênée, Liège-Carré, Liège-Guillemins, Liège-Saint-Lambert, Sclessin
- Marche zone: Aye, Marche-en-Famenne, Marloie
- Mechelen zone: Mechelen, Mechelen-Nekkerspoel
- Mons zone: Mons, Nimy
- Mouscron zone: Herseaux, Mouscron
- Namur zone: Flawinne, Jambes, Jambes-Est, Namur, Ronet
- Verviers zone: Verviers-Central, Verviers-Palais
If the traveller has a Season Ticket departing from or arriving at Mortsel, Mortsel-Liersesteenweg, Mortsel-Oude God or Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg, they may board or alight the train at one of the other aforementioned stations, with no further formalities.
However, a “Mortsel zone” does not exist and the used ticket therefore does not permit them to travel freely between these stations as they wish.
