Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – De Lijn and Antwerp police conducted a joint operation in Merksem that checked 1,126 passengers and issued 275 tickets of €107 each to persons who did not have the proper fare.
The Flemish public transportation company De Lijn faces current network problems, which present safety and operational difficulties. De Lijn personnel conducted a joint operation in Merksem, Antwerp, which led to 275 passengers receiving fines for not paying their fares. A complaint has been filed by De Lijn against a tram surfer in Kiel, Antwerp, who poses safety risks. Visitor services are being modified as the organisation addresses complaints and tackles driver staffing problems.
It is not yet clear when exactly the incident took place, but De Lijn strongly condemns the tram surfer’s actions.
“We are still trying to find out the details, but in any case, we are filing a complaint against unknown persons,”
Says Frederik Wittock of De Lijn.
Together with the police, the transport company is now looking into whether they can find out more information about the person.
“Travelling on a tram in this way involves a lot of dangers,”
Wittock continues.
“It is not only dangerous for the person in question, but also for the tram driver and the passengers if the driver has to make a sudden manoeuvre. Passengers could panic and the driver could also become distracted.”
In addition, it is dangerous for passers-by on bicycles or in cars, says De Lijn.
“Their attention is distracted from normal traffic. This is dangerous for everyone and absolutely reprehensible behavior. Unfortunately, this is not the first time, but we want to put a stop to this as much as possible.”
What is the context of De Lijn’s services and challenges?
The transportation system of Antwerp and its suburban areas is managed by De Lijn through its extensive bus tram and pre-metro lines network. Public transport users who need to travel regularly should buy a Lijnkaart multi-ride pass because these provide price advantages. You can purchase tickets at stations and supermarkets and online for usage on one-hour single-journey passes while moving between transportation modes.
The extensive De Lijn network has generated substantial complaints about its service quality. From January to November 2024, De Lijn received 14,121 complaints and faced 5,744 complaints in 2023. Basic accessibility legislation requires De Lijn to improve approximately 10% of its network through specified adjustments that prioritise popular routes with train station connections.
In Leuven, the adjustment covers almost 40% of the bus network through new route developments alongside route modifications, frequency adaptations and new line number implementations.
