How to take the rail journey from Brussels/Bruxelles to Cologne/Köln

A choice of train services:

The service of high speed trains between Brussels/Bruxelles and Cologne/Koln is split between ICE trains and Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains.
The timetable is typically arranged so that either one of these types of trains departs in each hour between 09:00 and 18:30, the service alternates - but the service is more sporadic either side of these times.

What type of train service you will be travelling by generally makes little different to the cost of tickets, the popularity of each specific departure has a bigger impact on prices.
The tickets for the ICE trains are made available two months ahead of the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains, so the very cheapest tickets for the ICE trains can have sold out before the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) tickets have been placed on sale.

Though something to look out for if you would prefer to travel in a reserved seat is that the reservations are complimentary on the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains are complimentary, while on the ICE trains they're optional and therefore have an additional cost.
Because seat reservations aren't mandatory on the ICE train, travelling by them is a cheaper option when travelling with Eurail or InterRail passes.

The ICE trains travel at the same speed as the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains, most of the ICE trains are around 4 mins slower than the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains due to their additional station call at Bruxelles-Nord.

Departing from Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid station:

Aim to be at Bruxelles Midi/Zuid station a minimum of 15 - 20 mins before your train is due to depart.
You will usually have to pass through security checks before boarding these trains and queues can build up at busy times.

The security checks are at the entrance to voies (platforms/tracks/3 -6) and these ICE and Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains to Koln are usually scheduled to depart from this part of the station.
But check the departure screens before heading for the security checks, these trains can occasionally be scheduled to leave from voies (platforms/tracks) 7 or 8.

If you'll be commencing your journey in a location convenient to Bruxelles-Central station, you'll have a faster end-to-end journey if you take the ICE trains.
Taking a train from Bruxelles-Central to Bruxelles-Nord and joining the ICE trains at that station will save around 20 minutes compared to heading to Bruxelles-Midi in order to board a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train; and the Thalys trains don't call at Bruxelles-Nord.

Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
It can also be worth comparing the prices across the agents, particularly if you want to take a specific trains, as there can be variations in price.

When travelling from Bruxelles/Brussels to Koln/Cologneby train, some journey options involve taking an ICE train while others involve taking a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train between these two cities.
This impacts on booking tickets.

Taking the ICE trains:

All of the tickets agents sell the journey options which involve taking this combination of trains.

Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
This booking period tends to be shorter when looking up journeys between mid August and mid October.

Three types of tickets are always available: Sparpreis Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa and Flexpreis Europa.

A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:

• Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
• Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
• Flexpreis tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.

The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but the Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.

Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.

The Sparpreis and Flexpreis tickets also include 'City tickets' for Koln which can be used on public transport on from Koln Hbf,

Seat reservations:
For ticket holders seat reservations are always optional on this route, but if you will be using a rail pass they are now mandatory when travelling between mid-June and mid-August - check the Train guide for the exact dates.
Regardless of whether you will be booking either type of Sparpreis tickets, or using rail passes, they cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.

They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis Europa tickets and both 1st and 2nd class Flexpreis Plus Europa tickets.
Though despite seats being automatically assigned when booking these three types of ticket - and these tickets being valid on any departure, you will need to pay to re-book the reservations, if you subsequently decide to travel on an alternative train.
So because you won't save by booking these types of tickets in advance, it can be a good idea to wait until you are sure when you will want to travel.

When booking Super Sparpreis Europa, Sparpreis Europa and 2nd class Flexpreis Europa tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Although if you do book your reservations later you will then have to pay for separate reservations per train.

Booking on the DB website:
If you can be flexible with your departure time use the 'best prices' tool - at the top right on the list of journey options.

Taking a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train:

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date

This booking period tends to be shorter when looking up journeys between mid August and mid October.

Though take care if you will be looking up a journey more than six months ahead of the travel date.
For a few weeks after the six month period the discounted ticket prices can also be available, but the non-discounted tickets can be on sale for dates further ahead.
So if you be will looking up a journey more than six months ahead and only see prices of more than €100, refrain from purchasing and return to the booking service a few weeks later.

Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.

*Exchanges

Book to travel in Standard and Eurostar Plus class:
The booked date and time can be exchanged to a different departure to the same destination up to one hour before departure time.

• If the cost of your new ticket is more than the cost of your original ticket, you will be required to pay the difference;
• If the cost of your new ticket is less than the cost of your original ticket, you will not receive a refund of the difference.

Book to travel in Eurostar Premier class:
The booked date and time can be exchanged to a different departure to the same destination up to 48hrs after departure time (from November 4th 2024).

• If the cost of your new ticket is more than the cost of your original ticket, you will be required to pay the difference;
• If the cost of your new ticket is less than the cost of your original ticket, you will not receive a refund of the difference.

The Eurostar ticket terms summary is here

Refunds

Book to travel in Standard and Eurostar Plus class:

• Up to seven days or more before the date of departure you will need to pay a fee of £25 per person for a one-way / single ticket and £50 per person for a two-way / return ticket - So you will only receive any sum you paid in excess of these sums.
• Less than seven days before the date of departure, tickets are non-refundable - Also applies if you exchanged a ticket to an alternative departure, under seven days ahead.

Book to travel in Premier class:
Up until 48hrs after departure time (from November 4th 2024), tickets can be refunded at no additional cost,

The Eurostar ticket terms summary is here

Child tickets
Children under the age of 12 travel at a flat rate price of €15 in Standard, €20 in Comfort and €30 in Premium Class.
Source = Eurostar

Bike Tickets

Tickets are not-required as non-folding bikes can only be taken on board as hand luggage - as both wheels must be removed and everything must be covered by a non-rigid cover with maximum dimensions of 135 x 85 x 30 cm.

Dog Tickets

Charged at a flat fee rate of €30, but the payment will be taken by the train conductor, as these tickets cannot be booked online.

Using rail passes:

If you will be travelling from Bruxelles to Koln with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass, target the ICE trains.

You won't have to pay any rail pass reservation fees to travel by those trains; though the optional fees are €5.90 in 1st class and €.4.90 in
In contrast the rail pass reservation fees for the Thalys trains will be €30 in 1st class and €20 in 2nd class.