Trains in Belgium

Train types in Belgium

The Belgian rail network is run by NMBS/SNCB, the Belgian National Railway Company. You can use the Interrail train timetable to look up train times for Belgian rail journeys.

Regional and intercity trains in Belgium

InterCity trains (IC)

Run between larger cities like Brussels, Antwerp and Liège.
International travel to The Hague/Rotterdam (Netherlands), Luxembourg City and Lille Flandres (France).
No reservation required.

CityRail trains

Run in the area around Brussels.
No reservation required.

Brussels Airport Express trains

Run from Brussels Airport to cities like Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels.
A supplement of €5 is required.

International high-speed trains in Belgium

EuroCity (EC)

Run from Brussels to Luxembourg, Strasbourg (France) and Basel (Switzerland).
Reservations are optional and recommended, because seats can fill up quickly.

Eurostar (ES)

The Eurostar runs between Brussels and London (Great Britain).
Reservations are compulsory.

ICE

ICE trains runs from Brussels to Cologne and Frankfurt in Germany.
Reservations are optional and recommended, because seats can fill up quickly.

Thalys (THA)

The Thalys runs from Brussels to Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Paris (France).
Reservations are compulsory.

TGV

TGV trains run from Brussels to Paris and Marseille (France).
Reservations are compulsory.

Reservations for trains in Belgium

Which trains in Belgium require reservations?

No reservations: NMBS/SNCB.
Supplement of €5: Brussels Airport Express.
Optional: ICE and EuroCity.
Compulsory: Eurostar, TGV and Thalys.
- TGV and Thalys trains only have limited seats for people with an Interrail Pass. You should make reservations for these trains as soon as possible.

How can I make reservations for trains in Belgium?

You can make reservations for international high-speed trains:

Online: through our Reservations Service.
At local train stations: at a ticket office.
By phone: through one of the railway call centres.

For more information about reservations in Belgium:

Domestic connections in Belgium

How long does it take to travel between major cities on the Belgian rail network? This table shows journey times for InterCity trains, which don't require reservations.

Route	Travel time
Brussels to Antwerp	47 minutes
Brussels to Bruges	56 minutes
Brussels to Gent	31 minutes
Brussels to Liège	58 minutes
Gent to Antwerp	55 minutes

International train connections to and from Belgium

Route	Which train?	Travel time	Reservations
Brussels to London (Great Britain)	Eurostar	3 hours	Required
Brussels to Luxembourg City (Luxembourg)	InterCity / EuroCity	3 hours	None
Brussels to Paris (France)	Thalys	1.5 hours	Required
Brussels to Rotterdam (Netherlands)	InterCity	2 hours	None

Belgium rail passes

An Interrail Pass for Belgium is known as the Benelux Pass. It's also valid for train travel in the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Save money on individual tickets and instead get one rail pass for multiple countries!

Interrail Pass options for Belgium

Interrail Benelux Pass

Offers you rail travel in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg
Youth, senior and family discounts available
Prices from € 105

View Benelux Passes

Interrail Global Pass

Offers you extensive rail travel in 33 European countries including Belgium
Youth, senior and family discounts available
Prices from € 185

View Global Passes

Train stations in Belgium

Belgian main train stations

Belgium's main stations have connections to many domestic and international destinations. These stations are:

Brussel Zuid/Bruxelles Midi
Brussel Centraal
Brussel Noord
Antwerpen Centraal
Gent Sint-Pieters
Luik Guillemins

Belgian train stations often have excellent and modern facilities:

Lockers
Cash machines and a foreign exchange desk
Restaurants and cafés
Tourist information offices
Elevators, escalators and access for disabled passengers

Pass benefits for Belgium

Transport and accommodation deals

With an Interrail Pass valid in Belgium, you can travel by bus to neighboring countries, and get a 10% discount at the Brussels Meininger Hotel.

See all pass benefits for Belgium

Spelling of cities in Belgium

Sign of the train station of Gent, Belgium

You'll usually find the local spelling of Belgian cities on Belgian train timetables and at train stations in Belgium. Names will be in both Dutch and French.

Good to know:

Antwerpen/Anvers = Antwerp
Brugge = Bruges
Brussel/Bruxelles = Brussels
Gent/Gand = Ghent
Oostende = Ostend

Example train route in the Benelux

An Interrail Benelux Pass covers train travel in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Route

Amsterdam > Maastricht > Brussels > Luxembourg City

Amsterdam: Wander through the historical city center and breathe in the vibrant atmosphere.
Antwerp: Well known for its trendy fashion boutiques and beautiful architecture.
Brussels: Bustling with culture – be sure to take a stroll at the Grand Place square.
Luxembourg City: Soaked in luxury and history. Enjoy amazing scenery at Chemin de la Corniche – ‘Europe’s most beautiful balcony'.

Pass suggestion

Interrail Benelux Pass
Travel days needed: 3 days within 1 month
Prices from € 105

View Interrail Benelux Passes