NMBS wants to make the train even more attractive for teleworkers with adapted products.
Since March 23, 2023, commuters can use a new, flexible subscription formula that responds to the increased importance of teleworking. After all, employees are increasingly working from home and therefore need transport tickets that allow them to travel flexibly to their workplace a few days a week. The different variants of the Flex Subscription are launched in a structured manner in different phases.
Teleworking is firmly entrenched in the work habits of most commuters. The corona pandemic has only accelerated that process. NMBS wants to make the train even more attractive for teleworkers with adapted products. A majority of teleworkers travel to their workplace on average 2-3 days a week. The new subscription formula is therefore focused on that passenger segment.
NMBS wants to increase the total number of travelers by 10% over the next 30 years. Given the growing importance of telework, it is essential to offer flexible products to commuters to support growth ambitions.
In 2021, NMBS started a pilot project with 20 companies and institutions from the private and public sector. The Flex Subscription was proposed to the employees via the employer. The successful pilot phase provided important input on the changed commuting habits of commuters.
The new Flex Subscription has been gradually rolled out to individuals and all other companies and institutions in the public and private sector since March 23, in a phased manner. It is a digital-only product available only through the app.
“Those who travel to the workplace a few days a week can now use a tailor-made subscription formula. Inexpensive, flexible and thanks to the app very easy and intuitive to use. In this way, the new commuting habits are integrated into the NMBS product range.”
In a first phase (from 23 March), private individuals – who usually opt for a monthly subscription – will have the opportunity to purchase a Flex Subscription for 10 travel days (Flex 10, for a month) via their smartphone. The season ticket can be linked to a season ticket for an NMBS car park (at a passenger rate). In a later phase, a connection with a subscription from De Lijn, STIB or TEC will also be possible.
In a second phase (from the end of April) it will be the turn of companies and institutions that already have a third-party payer arrangement with SNCB for their employees' subscriptions. From then on they will be able to offer Flex Subscriptions to their employees: the customer can choose a subscription that allows either 80 or 120 days of his choice to travel to and from work within a 12-month period, or 6 or 10 days of his choice per month. The subscription can be combined with a subscription for De Lijn, STIB and TEC, as well as with a subscription for an NMBS car park (at a passenger rate).
The traveler chooses the travel days during the term of his or her subscription, between two predetermined stations. This is activated in the app at the start of each travel day and before boarding the train. This is then scanned by the train conductor via a QR code.
Customers can, of course, also continue to opt for the existing subscription range, which is enriched with the Flex Subscription: via a comparison tool, interested parties can choose the subscription that best suits their needs (full-time subscription or flexible subscription).
The Flex Subscription offers travelers a flexible subscription formula that is adapted to their new commuting habits; an exclusively digital product, intuitive and easy to use according to NMBS.
“The Flex Subscription is a handy formula for the increasing number of teleworking commuters. The pilot project shows that the demand is high. As Minister of Mobility, I think it is important that NMBS responds to changing needs with new fare formulas in order to convince more travelers to opt for the train. A more extensive train offer, more comfort with more accessible trains and an attractive fare offer: these go hand in hand to make the train the backbone of our mobility. We also included these principles in the public service contract between the federal government and NMBS.”
