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Belgium by Train

Trains - Tickets - Routes
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 A Travel Guide For Train Travel In Belgium.

Here you will find information for Belgium about trains, routes, tours, connections, where to buy train tickets, and more.

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Useful Information

Population: 11.4 million

Currency: Euro

Language: Dutch, French, German

Capital: Brussels

Country Code: +32

Time Zone: Central European Standard Time

Train Companies

The trains in Belgium are operated by the national railway company SNCB.

belgium rail map

Copyright: RAILWAYHERO

Train Tickets

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Buy your train tickets for Belgium online on BELGIANTRAIN.be the official homepage of the Belgian Railway (SNCB).

Buy your train tickets online at OMIO and compare trains, buses & flights.

Rail Passes

Interrail / Eurail Pass

Do you want to travel throughout Europe flexibly and comfortably? Then the Interrail Pass is perfect for you. With the Interrail Pass, you can visit 40,000 destinations in 33 countries in Europe. You can travel for up to 3 months by train.

TrAIN tYPES

The major rail network in Belgium is composed of the following trains:

Regional Trains in Belgium

InterRegio (IR) connects towns to larger cities such as Antwerp and Brussels.

  • 1st and 2nd Class offered
  • Reservations not required
  • Trains are equipped with air-conditioning
  • International travel to Maastricht/Roosendaal (Netherlands) or Luxembourg City

InterCity (IC) links important cities such as Antwerp, Brussels, and Liège as well as offers connections to Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

  • 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
  • 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
  • Reservations not required; however, recommended during the peak travel season
  • Trains are equipped with air-conditioning and most trains are equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.

CityRail operates around Brussels.

  • 2nd Class only
  • Reservations not required.

Brussels Airport Express connects Brussels Airport to big cities such as Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp.

  • 5 € supplement charge

EuroCity (EC) links Brussels to Basel, Switzerland, Strasbourg, France, and Luxembourg.

  • 1st and 2nd Classes offered
  • Reservations not required; however, they are recommended due to the popularity of the routes
  • Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi, and air-conditioning. Trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.
  • Bicycles are allowed on trains; however, the bike needs an additional ticket

Eurostar (ES) connects Brussels to London, United Kingdom, and Lille, France.

  • 1st Class (Business Premier): Rows of three seats (2+1), inclusive of a meal, lounge access at terminal stations, as well as shorter check-in times at least 10 minutes before departure
  • 1st Class (Standard Premier): Rows of three seats (2+1), inclusive of a meal, check-in at least 30 minutes prior to departure
  • 2nd Class (Standard): Rows of four seats (2+2), check-in at least 30 minutes prior to departure
  • Reservations required
  • Most services are equipped with power outlets, WiFi, air-conditioning, and an on-board bistro offering a range of food and drinks.

InterCity Express (ICE) connects Brussels to Frankfurt and Cologne in Germany.

  • 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
  • 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
  • First-class passengers may enjoy additional benefits such as magazines, power outlets, and in-seat service.
  • Reservations not required; however, they are recommended due to the popularity of the routes
  • Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi, toilets, and air-conditioning. Trains are equipped with an onboard bistro offering a range of food and drinks.

Thalys (THA) connects Brussels to Amsterdam, Netherlands, and to Paris, France.

  • Premium Class: Rows of three seats (2+1), includes a meal, drinks, and newspapers
  • Comfort Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
  • Standard Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
  • Reservations required, book as soon as possible
  • Trains are equipped with power sockets, free WiFi, and air-conditioning. Trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.

TGV connects Brussels to Marseille and Paris, France.

  • 1st and 2nd Classes offered
  • Reservations required, book as soon as possible
  • Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi, and air-conditioning. Trains are equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.
  • Bicycles are allowed on trains, but the bike needs an additional ticket.

ÖBB Nightjet

Routes:

    • Brussels – Cologne – Frankfurt – Linz – Vienna, Austria
    • Brussels – Liège – Munich – Innsbruck, Austria
  • Reservations are included in the ticket price
  • Sleeping Carriage:
    • Standard cabin includes your own bed, washbasin, and breakfast in the morning
    • Deluxe cabin includes your own bed, shower, toilet, washbasin, and breakfast in the morning
  • Couchette Carriage:
    • 4 berth and 6 berth couchette, as well as private compartments, are offered
    • Bathrooms are located in the coach carriage
    • Breakfast is included in the ticket price
  • Sitting Carriage:
    • 2nd Class offered, no 1st Class
    • Bathrooms are located in the coach carriage
    • Food cart offering a selected variety of drinks and food pass through the carriages.

Routes

Frequently Travelled Routes In Belgium

National

From > To
Duration (h) Stops Trains
Brussels to Ghent 0:36 Direct Intercity
Brussels to Liege 1:17 Direct Intercity
Brussels to Antwerp 0:42 Direct Intercity
Brussels to Bruges 0:57 Direct Intercity
Brussels to Charleroi 0:51 Direct Intercity
Antwerp to Ghent 0:46 Direct Intercity
Antwerp to Genk 2:10 1 Intercity & Bus

 

International

From > To
Duration (h) Stops Transport
Brussels to London, England 1:55 Direct Train
Brussels to Paris, France 1:22 Direct Train
Brussels to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 3:23 Direct Train
Antwerp to Rotterdam, Netherlands 1:05 Direct Train
Antwerp to Amsterdam, Netherlands 1:44 Direct Train
Liege to Cologne, Germany 1:01 Direct Train
Ghent to Lille, France 2:04 1 Train

 

Belgium travel routes

Belgium: Exquisite Waffles And Delectable Beer

Belgium: Exquisite Waffles And Delectable Beer

From Amsterdam To Paris

From Amsterdam To Paris

Main Train Stations

  • Antwerp
  • Brussels
  • Bruges
  • Ghent
  • Genk
  • Liege
  • Charleroi

Train Tours in Belgium

Good to know

Best Time To Travel To Belgium

We recommend traveling anytime between April – June, and September – October as during this time it will be less humid and less rainy. Due to its location on the sea, maritime weather often soaks the country 20 days per month in the winter, and in the summer gets a bit steamy with its humidity.

For a city break, any time of year is good for a visit, to sit back, sip on a Belgian beer or chow down on a Belgian waffle. Come in summer to partake in horseback shrimp fishing or in February for the Brussels Chocolate Fair.

  • High Season: June to September
  • Low Season: November to March

 

Accommodation In Belgium

Booking

The best place to find cheap hotels for is to book by www.booking.com. There you will find a large selection of cheap hotels, hostels, and apartments. > BOOK HERE

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Hostelworld

If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, then go on www.hostelworld.com. They have the best choice of cheap hostels for backpackers and low budget travelers. > BOOK HERE

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Guidebooks For Belgium

Travel with a guidebook ease your journey to find best sights and things to do. Buy it on Amazon.

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