Getting There By Rail
Some nine billion Euros have been pumped into the Belgian National Railways – SNCB/NMBS (tel: (02) 528 2828; website: www.b-rail.be), in a 10-year modernisation plan due for completion in 2005. The service is fast and very efficient. There are three major railway stations in Brussels – Bruxelles-Central, located in the heart of the city, Bruxelles-Nord, to the north of the main ring road, and Bruxelles-Midi, to the south. They share a rail enquiries line (tel: (02) 555 2555). All three stations have bars, refreshments and disabled access, while Bruxelles-Midi and Bruxelles-Nord both have car parks.
Rail services: Most domestic trains stop at all three stations. Eurostar trains (tel: (02) 528 2828; website: www.eurostar.com) from London and Thalys express trains (tel: (070) 667 788; website: www.thalys.com) from Aachen, Amsterdam, Cologne and Paris stop at Bruxelles-Midi, the TGV (High-Speed Train) terminal. Links to Paris (journey time – 1 hour 30 minutes) and London (journey time – 2 hours 40 minutes) are fast and efficient.
Transport to the city: All three stations are on the métro – Bruxelles-Midi and Bruxelles-Nord have a direct connection to Bruxelles-Central, as well as to other cities and the airport.
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