The four major Belgian public transport companies collectively said goodbye to the social network site X on Wednesday.
De Lijn, NMBS, TEC and MIVB announced their departure at exactly 10.00:XNUMX via their official channels on the platform. According to the companies, the decision to turn their backs on X was prompted by various considerations, including safeguarding core values and improving communication with passengers.
The NMBS, the national railway company, indicated in its latest message on X that the platform is no longer in line with its values. “We are leaving X. This communication channel is no longer in line with the values of NMBS,” the statement read. With almost 65.000 followers, the NMBS account was an important channel for train passengers looking for up-to-date travel information. The Walloon SNCB account, which reached a significant target group with over 51.000 followers, has also ceased its activities on X.
other platforms
Passengers who previously received updates via X about delays, cancelled train connections or disruptions are now being referred to other platforms. NMBS emphasises that the same information remains available via its website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and the official app. “The information that was on X is systematically on these pages,” the railway company explains. In addition, the contact form for passenger questions remains an option.
At De Lijn, the Flemish transport company, the functionality of its own app plays a decisive role in the decision to leave X behind. Spokesperson Marco Demerling explains to VRT NWS: "We can communicate much more specifically and customised via our app about, for example, disruptions on the network." In this respect, De Lijn's motivation differs somewhat from that of NMBS, which links its departure more explicitly to the values of the company.
Elon Musk
While there has been no official statement citing the influence of Elon Musk, the owner of X, as a decisive factor, it is notable that several large organizations have recently reconsidered their presence on the platform. Since Musk took charge of X, there has been a lot of criticism of the way the platform is managed, including a perceived lack of moderation and the spread of misinformation.
The decision of the Belgian transport companies to leave X is not without consequences for the passengers. For many commuters, X was a fast and accessible source for real-time updates on public transport. The switch to other platforms, in particular the official apps and websites, means that passengers have to find their information in a different way. Whether this new approach is as efficient as the communication via X, only time will tell.
