From October, it will no longer be possible to buy physical tickets for international train journeys at nine stations across Belgium, SNCB has stated.
Belgium's national rail company has announced that it is ceasing physical ticket sales at several stations due to a decline in sales, as passengers tend to buy their tickets online.
The nine affected stations are: Arlon, Eupen, Ottignies, Brussels-Luxembourg, Antwerp-Berchem, Kortrijk, Hasselt, Mechelen and Ostend.
SNCB spokesperson Bart Crols said that the train operator aims to streamline the sale of international tickets, and focus the sale of physical tickets in twelve stations: Antwerp-Central, Bruges, Brussels Airport-Zaventem, Brussels-Central, Brussels-South, Brussels-North, Charleroi-Central, Ghent-Sint-Pieters, Liège-Guillemins, Leuven, Mons and Namur.
Crols said that "travel stores" at these stations will specialise in international travel, and "can provide customers with personalised and detailed advice on these products".
He said the move to cease physical ticket sales comes as "customers are following the general trend of digitalisation and online purchasing". Crols added that part of the company's range of international tickets will still be available from ticket machines.
