TGV Bruxelles - France

Technically TGV Réseau trains are used for all of these services, but for most travellers the most relevant info is that all of these trains are single deck - the double decked TGV trains are not used on these services.

Power sockets are also available in the platforms/vestibules between coaches, you are encouraged to use these spaces between coaches to make mobile calls.

These train services between Bruxelles/Brussels and cities in France other than Paris follow these routes in both directions, which *avoid the French capital.

(1) Bruxelles-Midi <> Aeroport CDG - Marne La Valléé - Lyon - Valence - Avignon - Aix en Provence - Marseille

(2) Bruxelles-Midi <> Aeroport CDG - Marne La Valléé - Lyon - Valence - Nimes - Montpellier

(3) Bruxelles-Midi <> Aeroport CDG - Champagne-Ardenne - Lorraine - Strasbourg

So if you take these direct trains you can avoid the need to transfer between stations in Paris.

*The Thalys high speed service links Paris with Bruxelles/Brussels.

The only station served by these trains in Belgium is Bruxelles-Midi/Zuid.

Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for journeys by these trains.

Rail pass users will need to have made reservations prior to boarding.

If you have a rail pass you can no longer book reservations online on Oui-SNCF.com - info for how you can now book the rail pass reservations is available on the guide to using rail passes in France.

Rail pass users should also note that the reservations fees are higher when making journeys to and from Bruxelles/Brussels by these trains, in comparison to taking TGV trains within France

Two TGV trains can be joined together for a departure - so some trains can be very long.

On many trains TO Bruxelles, the TGV on the service to Belgium will be joined to another TGV train, which will be completing its journey at Lille

When travelling TO Belgium, the seat you have been assigned when boarding will be in the part of the train heading to Bruxelles.
However, be wary of boarding by any door and assuming that you can walk through the train to find your seat.

Something else to watch out for is that the part of the train heading to Bruxelles and the part of the train going no further than Lille, always have different train numbers.

Don’t panic if only the train heading to Lille is listed on the departure screens at a station.
If you can only see a train on the screens heading to Lille, with the same departure time as the train you’re booked on - then this info will also be for the train you are taking to Bruxelles.

Before boarding check your ticket for the number of coach in which your reserved set is located.
The coach/carriage numbers can be hard to spot, as they are on the electronic info panel set into the body work of the train by the door.

Each carriage/coach only has one door.
It won’t open automatically there will be a button to the right of the door (when exiting the train you will also need to use the button to open the doors).

If you DON'T have luggage with you hang back and be amongst the last passengers to board.
All seats are reserved, so you won’t risk having no seat to travel in, and you can avoid being caught up in the scramble for luggage space.

Whether you have luggage or not, keep your ticket where you can access it easily - so that you can check your seat number as you enter the seating area.
The sequence of numbers can seem illogical, so take your time.
What you won’t see is any indication of the stations between which the seat is reserved for - all you have to do is look for the seat (place) numbers and match it to the seat number on your ticket.

When boarding, the main luggage rack will be to one side, while the seating area will be to the other.

If you have large items of luggage don’t be tempted to locate your seat first, and then work out where to stow your luggage.
Head for the luggage rack first, as space can be limited.

If you head into the seating area first, it’s likely that you’ll conclude that you’ll need to turn back, but now you’ll have a queue of people behind you trying to access their seats.
If you store large items in these racks by the doors, you have to accept that being able to see your bags from your seat is unlikely - but usually there is no practical alternative.

There is limited space in the seating area in which to store large items of luggage - the above seat luggage racks are particularly small, and won’t accommodate items much larger than a large handbag.
Medium size bags will fit in the space between some of the seats and on small luggage racks at the ends of the coach by the doors.

Max luggage allowance = 2 suitcases/large bags + item of hand luggage per person.

There is no catering trolley service on these trains, so you will need to go the bar coach if you want to purchase food and drink – though don’t over rely on it being open.

TGV Bar Menu (PDF)

Take care with food and drink, particularly un-opened bottles and drinks in cups and glasses. When the trains corner at high speed, drinks and food can fly off the table.