De Lijn has registered a 2024 percent increase in the number of passengers in 4,5. With a total of 373 million passengers, the demand for public transport in Flanders appears to be increasing.
This increase is also reflected in the sale of tickets: the number of season tickets increased by 4 percent and single tickets and multi-trip cards sold 7 percent better than the year before. Passengers also gave De Lijn a satisfaction score of 7,5 out of 10. With the introduction of a new counting method, in which counting cameras on vehicles are combined with AI analysis, De Lijn has significantly refined its measuring methods. Cameras have been installed on 1.600 buses and trams that count passengers getting on and off.
This data is linked to the devaluations of MoBIB subscriptions and other tickets, and analysed based on factors such as the time of day, the weather and the type of stop. The new counting method shows that previous counts underestimated the actual number of passengers. In 2023, 357 million passengers were counted according to the old method, while the new method shows that this number was higher. In 2024, De Lijn recorded 373 million passengers with the new measuring method.
strong growth in flexible transport
One of the striking trends in 2024 was the strong growth of flexible transport, which was introduced at the beginning of this year as a replacement for the former dial-a-bus. More than a million passengers used these new, flexible buses, which represents an increase of 25 percent compared to the old system. Flex transport, which operates on demand, offers a wider time window and greater geographical coverage, making it accessible to more passengers.
By using the counting cameras, De Lijn can also check for fare dodging more specifically. By mapping out discrepancies between the registered tickets and the counted passengers, the control staff can be deployed more effectively. In 2024, 2,2 million passengers were checked, an increase of almost 40 percent compared to the previous year.
These increased checks are paying off. The number of fare dodgers dropped from 4,5 percent in 2023 to 3,8 percent in 2024. This fits into a broader trend in which fare dodgers have been steadily decreasing since the corona period. In 2021, when there were hardly any checks, this percentage was still 7,8 percent.
historical reform
The introduction of a more demand-driven and efficient public transport network in 2024 marked the biggest reform in De Lijn's history. A completely new network was rolled out in six of the fifteen regions in Flanders. In addition, routes were adjusted and new connections were introduced.
The changes required considerable effort from both passengers and employees. Nevertheless, the increase in passenger numbers shows that the new approach is effective. By using the counting cameras, De Lijn will be able to respond even more specifically to demand per region and line in the future.
plans for 2025
De Lijn will continue to renew its network and fleet in 2025. Director-General Ann Schoubs announced that 200 new e-buses will be delivered this year. This is a step towards a more sustainable public transport network and contributes to the rejuvenation of the bus fleet.
In addition, the Flemish government has released an additional investment of 400 million euros, allowing De Lijn to order significantly more new buses and trams. The aim is to make the network even more efficient and effective in consultation with partners such as the Department of Mobility and Public Works and the transport regions. Meanwhile, passenger satisfaction figures remain stable. In 2024, 77 percent of passengers indicated they were satisfied with their travel experience with De Lijn. According to Schoubs, this figure underlines that the organization is on the right track.
