Belgian Train Station Passengers Deal With VT Malfunctions

Malfunctioning vertical-transportation (VT) equipment including lifts and escalators at Belgian train stations create issues for those with mobility issues, with 1,119 malfunctions reported in 2021, The Brussels Times reports. It can take up to 10 working days to repair each unit within the system, which includes 285 lifts and 312 escalators managed by Belgian National Railway Service (SNCB). Although critics feel the situation is “unacceptable,” SNCB is heading in the right direction, with 1,213 VT malfunctions reported in 2020 and approximately 2,000 a few years prior. VT equipment availability at even the most affected stations is not lower than 68%. SNCB spent approximately EUR280,000 (US$293,116) on VT repairs in 2021.