The next two years will be difficult for SNCB, acknowledged Thursday the Minister of Mobility, Georges Gilkinet, in response to a series of questions in the Chamber, after the hearing the day before of the boss of the railway company, Sophie Dutordoir , in committee.
As part of the budget discussions, the Vice-Premier Ecolo obtained an additional 3 billion euros over ten years, which is added to the 3.2 billion annual allocation guaranteed to railway companies. “These additional means will be an integral part of the management contracts to be concluded by the end of the year and will therefore contractually commit the next governments. They are solid and robust”, underlined Mr. Gilkinet.
Before the Mobility Committee, Ms. Dutordoir however explained that her company had been forced to postpone to the following years a certain number of investments planned for 2023-2024 following the budgetary conclave. According to her, there is a differential of 808 million euros compared to her expectations.
According to the Minister, the situation will be corrected from 2025. From then on, the financial path of SNCB will correspond to its requests, both operationally and in terms of investments.
As part of the budget discussions, the Vice-Premier Ecolo obtained an additional 3 billion euros over ten years, which is added to the 3.2 billion annual allocation guaranteed to railway companies. “These additional means will be an integral part of the management contracts to be concluded by the end of the year and will therefore contractually commit the next governments. They are solid and robust”, underlined Mr. Gilkinet. Before the Mobility Committee, Ms. Dutordoir however explained that her company had been forced to postpone to the following years a certain number of investments planned for 2023-2024 following the budgetary conclave. According to her, there is a differential of 808 million euros compared to her expectations. According to the Minister, the situation will be corrected from 2025. From then on, the financial path of SNCB will correspond to its requests, both operationally and in terms of investments.
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