Direct Bus Route from Geel to Leuven Cut Due to Budget Savings

A direct bus route connecting Geel and Leuven, frequently used by students, will be significantly altered starting tomorrow. Bus line 32a will be truncated to terminate in Aarschot as part of budget-saving measures implemented by the Flemish government. This change forces passengers to transfer to a train for the remainder of their journey to Leuven.

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Now the journey is not only longer, but also more expensive: you have to buy a train ticket and a bus ticket.

Students like Juliette from Meerhout, who relies on the bus to reach her student housing in Leuven, express frustration. She highlights that the direct bus is the only public transport option from her region to Leuven. The new arrangement not only extends travel time but also increases costs, as passengers must now purchase both a bus ticket to Aarschot and a train ticket to Leuven.

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It is really a very vulnerable group that pays the price of the savings.

Local officials, including Kris Vangeel, the Schepen of Mobility, voice concern over the decision. Vangeel points out that the affected route serves not only students from Geel and surrounding municipalities but also less mobile individuals and families seeking medical care in Leuven, a significant health hub. He worries that these cuts disproportionately impact vulnerable populations and contribute to transport poverty, particularly in rural areas. The change is expected to make travel longer and more expensive for many, impacting their daily lives and access to essential services.

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There is only one direct means of transport to Leuven from our region and that is that bus.