Prices for public transport in Flanders are going up in February, with the popular SMS ticket price increasing by more than 10%

Flemish public transport authority De Lijn will increase the cost of a ticket bought by SMS by more than 10%, the company has announced. The price will come into effect in February.

At present a ticket bought via text message costs €1.80, plus a 15c surcharge for the mobile provider. The price is now €2 for the ticket, which brings the total price to €2.15.

The SMS ticket was launched to make it easier for the occasional user of public transport to take the bus or tram without having to buy a multiple-journey ticket. By sending a text message, a passenger receives a return message valid for travel over a period of one hour on any De Lijn route.

The price of tickets bought via third-party apps will not change. The M-ticket will continue to cost €1.80, without any surcharge. By comparison, buying a ticket from a ticket machine or the driver costs €3.

De Lijn also announced other price increases: An annual youth Buzzy Pazz goes up by €5, while an adult pass goes up by €7 a year. Seniors and children under 11 pay €1 more, as do buyers of a 10-trip card.

De Lijn said its prices remain “far and away the cheapest in Belgium and surrounding countries”.