The Convenience of Belgium Trains

Belgian trains connect all the major towns and cities in the country. The main train company is the SNCB, (the Belgian National Railway) which operates trains in Belgium on a regular schedule. It offers many discount packages and rail passes to make travel inexpensive and convenient for all travellers. If you are a frequent passenger on the trains in Belgium you can buy a Key Card that you can use for sixteen short trips. You can choose either first or second class, which of course is reflected in the price.

There are three main Brussels train stations: Brussels North, Brussels Central and Brussels Midi. There is a range of facilities available at these stations, but the focal point of each one is the ticket office. Here you can pay with cash, but several different credit cards are also accepted. The timetables are posted clearly so that you will know when your train will be departing and arriving at your destination. Most of the stations also have carparks for the travellers, some of which offer free parking. Take your car to one of the train stations in Brussels and leave it there while you take the rest of the trip, whether it is to another city or a location within Brussels.

The Belgian National Railway also operates the Bruges trains between Brussels and the town of Brugge. At the station in Brugge, there is both paid and free bicycle parking as well as carparks. The station is located on the main Ostend-Brussels Intercity line. It offers connections to Eurostar for travellers to London and Thalys for travellers to Paris.

In addition to purchasing a Key Card, you can also buy a Rail Pass for ten single journeys between any two cities in Belgium. This rail pass is valid for one year on the trains in Belgium, so if you plan to visit Belgium several times a year, this would be a way to save money on your travel expenses within the country.

Taking a weekend vacation from one of the Belgian cities is also possible with the Weekend Pass that is 50% off the regular fares. With this ticket, you must travel from Friday to Sunday and as long as you mention it at the station, you can return home from a different station than the one at which you arrived.  You also have a choice in the package you choose in tickets for the trains in Belgium. Simply log on to the SNCB website to choose dates and locations to find a discount package that is right for you.

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