© BELGIUM
De Lijn’s new transport plan has not led to “the predicted chaos” and where there are problems, adjustments are being made. That was the central message from Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open VLD) and Director General of De Lijn Ann Schoubs on Thursday in the Mobility Committee of the Flemish Parliament. But the assembled opposition labels that message as a “good news show” and “unworldly”.
Thursday January 18, 2024 at 6:09 PM
A lot has been said and written in recent weeks about De Lijn’s new transport plan, more specifically phase 2 of the basic accessibility system, which was introduced on January 6.
According to Minister Peeters and CEO Schoubs, the feared chaos has not occurred, although the winter injection has made matters more difficult in recent days. The Peeters-Schoubs duo emphasizes the positive elements, such as the fact that 3 million extra kilometers are traveled annually, that the frequency has been increased on many lines and that more and later routes are being driven.
“Here and there there are things that don’t go exactly as they should,” Schoubs acknowledges. But where there are problems, adjustments are also made. That has already happened here and there. Although, according to Schoubs, the new network must also be given the opportunity to “establish itself”. And yes, there are also complaints. Since November 15, 2023, almost 5,000. But De Lijn likes to compare that number with the 950,000 daily travelers. Moreover, 3,800 complaints have already been processed, it says.
“Good news show”
The opposition did not like De Lijn’s presentation much. Several MPs speak of a “good news show”. For example, Green MP Stijn Bex calls it a very “rosy” picture that “stands in stark contrast” with the testimonies of people who see their offer disappear.
Vooruit MP Els Robeyns calls the explanation downright “unworldly”. Vlaams Belang MP Wim Verheyden also agrees with this criticism. “You say everything is going well and that it’s not that bad. But that is beyond reality.”
“There is no testing against reality,” says PVDA MP Jos D’Haese. “People who see their line disappear have no use for a higher frequency on another line. And 3 million extra kilometers, that sounds great, but between 2009 and 2022 the number of kilometers driven has fallen by 23 million,” says D’Haese.
Minister Peeters reacted somewhat irritated to the opposition’s criticism and described it as “hallucinatory”. The Open VLD minister pointed out, among other things, that the new plan will only be in effect for twelve days and that “not everything can be solved in a snap.” According to her, many travelers are also responding positively to the innovation and adjustments will be made where there are problems.