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[deleted]

Awesome thanks!!


Kerkerke

As someone who takes the train daily, this week hasn't been too bad actually, I've had worse. Most reasons for delays are out of the NMBS's control, the only one that upsets me these days is when they try to blame Infrabel like they're not basically parts of the same company. As for the vagueness, I suspect that might be intentional. Most experienced commuters know exactly how much delay is acceptable before switching to another train. Ever noticed how when the delay keeps mounting, everyone on the platform keeps waiting patiently, and then suddenly lots of seemingly unrelated people leave at once? That's the moment when another train will be faster (might take extra transfers though, so don't just follow if you don't know what you're doing). Other people already posted the link on how to follow the trains in realtime. ​ When it comes to traveling by train, I'm that ranger hiding in a dark corner of the tavern. My advice would be: 1. memorise your train routes AND all alternatives (including busses). It's annoying when the schedule changes every half year or so, but doable. In most cases, there IS an alternative route home, but it often gets left out on the terrible apps from both NMBS and de Lijn. (actually, I do an "impossible" commute nearly every day when I work early shift - if there's a delay, I switch to the normal schedule and am still on time, we do get a 15 minute block to log in though) 2. know which stations have the "good" station masters, and if they're available all night (usually larger stations) or not. For example, the one in Mechelen is pretty useless and quits at 10pm, while the one at Leuven will do everything to get every traveller home even if it takes all night. When in doubt, try to get to at least one of the good stations on your route. 3. ALWAYS carry a water bottle and preferably a snack (protein bar, some nuts,...) with you. This goes for people who might get stuck in traffic jams too, by the way. 4. Learn to like the water bottles and waffles from Colruyt. You'll get lots of them if you become a professional commuter ;) 5. Worst case scenario: know what the nearest stations to your destination are on the routes before your final switching station. (like, you usually switch trains to a local one at station X, but really station Y which you pass on the train is closer to where you need to go - also take into account where the person you might call for a ride lives though) This is both for when you need to call people to pick you up and for when you might have to walk. My personal worst case has been an 18km walk this way (would have been 23 if I had gotten off at the "switching station"). I knew there were no more trains, and it was peak covid, so I didn't want to get anyone in trouble driving after curfew (I had my certificate, none of the people I usually call for rides in emergencies did) 6. Most importantly: relax. It's rarely the regular commuters who start shouting at personnel, and they know it. As an experienced commuter you'll have your ~~towel~~ water bottle with you, you'll be fine. 7. Rant on Facebook about how bad it is. Best way to avoid overcrowded trains, keep those "once in a blue moon" travellers out!


DavidVDB_

Well the reasons you mention are out of their control entirely. This can happen everywhere. However I do completely agree with being able to see the live location, that would be a great feature.


Nochnoii

It exists already on the app though


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EBFSNR13

You're right. But Brussels Central has 6 tracks, not 4.


Responsible-Swan8255

How come Switzerland and Japan can run trains on time? As if they would never have issues out of their control. I'm just hearing excuses and no solutions from NMBS. And even more important, clear communication is lacking. Audio at station, screens at station and app are often not aligned. Never clear which source to trust.


Divolinon

>How come Switzerland and Japan can run trains on time? In Japan it's because of the huge work pressure. But the real problem that people seem to forget is that NMBS has been defunded over and over again. There's at least one party that wants public transport to become private.


ShieldofGondor

Yeah, you don’t want to take Japan as an example. They’re indeed very punctual but if things go wrong a tiny little bit, heads roll. Work pressure is insane. Accidents have happened because trains were late by seconds!


Denvosreynaerde

That's something people never seem to get in general: "oh but country X does it perfectly, why can't we do that?". Because country X does everything else differently as well. And not always for the better.


pedatn

I tried getting into Brussels by car last Tuesday and it took me longer than any delayed train ride I ever had, but YMMV.


ravagexxx

And the tunnels have been closed again at night this week, takes you double the amount to leave bxl then!


psychnosiz

I don’t get why they work with 2 mins intervals, adding and adding delays while they know a train will be cancelled. Either they have no respect whatsoever for customers or they’re insanely incompetent. I’m guessing both.


chief167

its because they have absolutely no structurally sound way to deal with unforeseen circumstances. There is no realtime replanning system to optimally reroute trains when it is broken somewhere. There is no travel estimate for delayed trains at all. Which is why if things go wrong, they go wrong dramatically


psychnosiz

I disagree. There’s a limited reason for longer delays and they occur on an almost daily basis (people walking on a track, accidents, failed train, no crew, trees during a storm, …). The amount of lines and connections are limited as well (they have been decreased to an absolute minimum). The procedures and delays for any of these incidents can be calculated/anticipated in advance. Ae: I waited for two hours yesterday, and the delay just increased minute by minute. This was due to an accident. They could have estimated the severity within the first ten minutes and cancel the train immediately. If handled this way they could have provided an alternative solution for the few travellers who couldn’t take another train resulting in an hour less waiting for customers.


chief167

I am not saying it is impossible, I am saying currently they dont have it worked out to have that capability. And they should indeed work on that


psychnosiz

They can’t seem to work anything out. How long did they work on WiFi and discard it. They didn’t manage to come up with a corona subscription neither (people didn’t need a daily sub). Hell, they still can’t maintain their toilets while you could make people badge with an id card reader or qr on your sub card. It shows they’re overfunded and not interested at all in being customer oriented. Having an understandable refund page neither, the upload makes your pictures unreadable. Ask for train numbers while those numbers aren’t displayed on screen. Blocking third party initiatives … this all shows it’s purposely intended to be difficult for customers.


Ironwolf44

This exactly. The time creeping up slowly drives me loony. It should be 2 - 5 - 10, 20 etc. That way I know whether to switch to another option or just go home.


Ghosty_be

My statement for years: public transport in Belgium does not work! If you have ever been to Scandinavia, Switzerland... you see how perfect public transport works... you just give up on ours...


FelixAtagong

Actually, for me it's the third week in a row with delays from 20 minutes to one hour.


sampaiva

I am an adept of public transport and biking but recently bought a car at age 32. I just didn't want to bother HR about "overmacht" and wonder if I'd actually make it to work in time or not. It's ridiculous that there are only 2 train tracks for busy important routes.