Low-income passengers or those entitled to higher-rate health benefits can enjoy half-price rail travel.

  • 50%* discount in 2nd class
  • to any destination in Belgium, whenever you want
  • to purchase the ticket you are required to have a Preferential Reimbursement Discount Card
  • the discount card is personal and non-transferable

Practical info

You should proceed to the ticket office where the official will process your application using the Social Security Crossroads Database. Personal social security data is retained and managed in the Social Security Crossroads Database by the health insurance provider in question.

Simply present your electronic ID card at the ticket office. Then he/she will enter your national registration number to log into the Crossroads Database. If the database provides a positive response, the plasticised card will be printed out.

If it is not possible to log into the Crossroads Database, you need to visit your health insurance provider where you can apply for one certificate (valid for 3 months from the issue date) per claimant.

The following items must be included on this certificate:

  • The logo of the mutual health fund
  • Surname and first name of the claimant
  • Postal address
  • Date of birth
  • The fact that you have been assigned 'Preferential Reimbursement' status

You then take this certificate to the ticket office together your electronic ID and a recent passport photo. You will then be given a discount card free of charge by the official.

This card assumes the form of a main card (a plasticised card with a pocket) and a validation ticket.

The main card is valid for 5 years, the validation ticket is valid for 1 year. If you are 65 or older, then you will be granted a validation, which is valid for 5 years.

To renew the card, the same steps must be taken as for obtaining the original card (by consulting the Social Security Crossroads Database with your electronic identity card).
A new validation ticket will be printed for 1 year (5 years if you are 65 years or older).

If your Preferential Reimbursement Discount Card is lost, stolen, expired or damaged, you can get a new one by going to one of our ticket counters. The issuing cost is €6.

  1. Buy your ticket in 2nd class.
  2. Opt for the Class upgrade supplement for the same journey.
  3. Present your 2nd class ticket and your Class upgrade ticket at the ticket control
No. If you have a Preferential Reimbursement discount ticket with Brussels Airport-Zaventem as your departure or arrival station, the Brussels Airport Supplement is already included in the price of your ticket. You don't need to buy a supplement separately.

You can open the gates at Brussels Airport-Zaventem station with the QR code that appears on your ticket.

*Discount only applied to the non-fixed part of the Standard fare. In 2nd class, the fixed amount is € 1,2923, per single journey. In 1st class, it is € 1,6800 (less than 37km) or € 1,8092 (37km - 51km) or € 1,9901 (52km and more) per single journey. The minimum price per single journey is € 2,50 in 2nd and € 3,30 in 1st class.

3 reasons to buy your train ticket online

  • you buy your ticket wherever and whenever you want
  • you save time by skipping the queue at the ticket office
  • you always have your ticket on your smartphone
Looking for parking close to your station? By presenting your train ticket you can take advantage of an attractive discount on the cost of parking. Information and conditions relating to SNCB parking.
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