Content
EuroCity
How to travel on the conventional (non high speed) express trains when travelling between Belgium and The Netherlands.
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At a Glance
Travel Pass Supplement
Rail Pass Reservation Fees
Reservations
Not Available
Time of Day
Day
Accessibility
Accessing the train
Wheelchair Spaces
Bikes Allowed
Train Specification
Attributes of the train
Has a Conductor
Country
Which country these trains operate in.
Belgium
Netherlands
Travel Passes
Eurail
Interrail
On Board
First Class
Perks
Power Socket
The power sockets on this train are compatible with standard E.U. two point plugs.
Second Class
Perks
Power Socket
The power sockets on this train are compatible with standard E.U. two point plugs.
Trolley Service:
A catering trolley with hot and cold drinks and snacks should be taken through the train at some point during its journey.
Travel summary:
The Belgian national rail operator, NMBS/SNCB, provides these trains which travel between Bruxelles / Brussels and Rotterdam
They provide a non-high speed* alternative service to the Eurostar trains for journeys between Belgium and The Netherlands.
*Although these trains use high speed line between Rotterdam and Antwerp, they don't travel at high speed.
For journeys on the Bruxelles ↔ Rotterdam route they are slower than the EuroCity Direct trains, because they divert off the direct route in order to call at Breda,
On Board:
In contrast to the very new EuroCity direct trains and the refurbished Eurostar trains which are also available for rail journeys between Belgium and The Netherlands, these trains use older coaches - which has been previously been used for Belgian express train routes.
They are not double-deck trains, but two steps have to be negotiated at the doors when boarding and leaving the train - in contrast the EuroCity direct trains have level boarding.
Though two aspects of the travel experience are in common with the EuroCity Direct trains as these trains also do not offer a catering service and seat reservations are not available.
Therefore when taking these trains from Bruxelles, it can be a good idea to be at the Midi / Zuid station a minimum of 20 minutes prior to departure, so that you can board as soon as the departure details are confirmed.
These trains can be popular, particularly for the part of the journey between Bruxelles and Breda - seats will typically be available when taking these trains from Rotterdam, even when boarding at the last minute.
Ticketing:
These trains are typically the cheapest option for journeys in either direction between Bruxelles and Rotterdam, whether you book ahead online or last minute at the station,
Route
These trains take this one route:
Bruxelles Midi/Zuid - Bruxelles Centraal - Bruxelles Nord - Bruxelles Aeroport ↔ Mechelen - Antwerpen Centraal - Breda - Rotterdam
In contrast to the Thalys trains and the the EuroCity Direct trains which only depart from and arrive at the main Midi / Zuid station in Bruxelles, these Euro City trains also call at the Centraal and Nord stations in the Belgian capital
So if your journey will be commencing for finishing in locations convenient to those two stations, when comparing journey times factor in the 10 - 15 mins required to travel back down the line to Bruxelles-Midi.
These trains provide the only direct rail service between Belgium and Breda, hence connections are possible in Breda when travelling between both Bruxelles and Antwerp and a swathe of Dutch cities including Arnhem, Dordrecht, Eindhoven, Nijmegen and s-Hertogenbosch.
Bicycles:
These trains have designated storage areas for non-folding bicycles, but they are only available in certain coaches, so look out for the bike symbols by the doors.
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