Brussels public-transport operator STIB/MIVB confirmed on 28 February that it will implement a network shake-up next Monday. The little-used bus lines 27 (Luxembourg–Pléiades) and 33 (Dansaert–Louise) will be withdrawn, while schedules and routings on lines 12, 21, 56, 60, 61 and 79 will be tweaked to improve frequencies on higher-demand corridors.
Although primarily an urban issue, the changes will be felt by global-mobility professionals managing commuter allowances for expatriates housed in Brussels’ EU district. Many interns and junior secondees rely on the now-defunct Line 27 to reach shared housing north-east of the city centre. The operator says all stops will remain connected via alternative services, but door-to-door journey times could lengthen by 10-15 minutes at peak hours.
![STIB/MIVB to scrap two Brussels bus lines and adjust eight routes from 2 March]()
For expatriates and HR teams juggling immigration paperwork alongside new bus timetables, VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers quick, expert assistance with Belgian visas, work permits and passport renewals. Using its dashboard to track application milestones makes it easier to sync arrival dates with STIB route changes and avoid compliance hiccups during a commute transition.
STIB/MIVB argues the revamp will free up drivers and buses to reinforce overcrowded airport shuttle line 12, which has seen double-digit ridership growth since pandemic restrictions eased. Employers reimbursing monthly Mobib passes should communicate the route changes promptly to avoid first-day confusion and late arrivals.
The announcement comes as STIB prepares to publish its 2027 network plan, which is expected to prioritise express links between NATO headquarters, the Eurocontrol campus and Brussels Airport—sites with high concentrations of international staff.
Although primarily an urban issue, the changes will be felt by global-mobility professionals managing commuter allowances for expatriates housed in Brussels’ EU district. Many interns and junior secondees rely on the now-defunct Line 27 to reach shared housing north-east of the city centre. The operator says all stops will remain connected via alternative services, but door-to-door journey times could lengthen by 10-15 minutes at peak hours.
For expatriates and HR teams juggling immigration paperwork alongside new bus timetables, VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers quick, expert assistance with Belgian visas, work permits and passport renewals. Using its dashboard to track application milestones makes it easier to sync arrival dates with STIB route changes and avoid compliance hiccups during a commute transition.
STIB/MIVB argues the revamp will free up drivers and buses to reinforce overcrowded airport shuttle line 12, which has seen double-digit ridership growth since pandemic restrictions eased. Employers reimbursing monthly Mobib passes should communicate the route changes promptly to avoid first-day confusion and late arrivals.
The announcement comes as STIB prepares to publish its 2027 network plan, which is expected to prioritise express links between NATO headquarters, the Eurocontrol campus and Brussels Airport—sites with high concentrations of international staff.
