A railway employee in Belgium was assaulted while checking tickets on October 5. The recently reported case is far from unique and highlights a growing problem of aggression against Belgian transport personnel.
Conflicts with passengers over tickets frequently turn violent. The National Railway Company of Belgium (SNCB) reports six aggression cases per day with over 40% involving physical attacks. One train attendant described how
Any case can be overwhelming, either physical or verbal aggression, and when it happens multiple times in a week, it becomes too much for me. Then, I lose sleep and even doubt the entire job at times.
Often working alone, train staff say they feel vulnerable and struggle to perform their duties safely.
Such reports coincide with the sense that parts of Belgium’s transport infrastructure may pose a threat to personal safety, such as at Brussels Midi railway station.
