Train Travel in Belgium — A Super Quick Guide
Need some quick insights into train travel in Belgium? Look no further than below!
If you are under 26, Belgian Rail offers the “Go Pass”, a 6 Euro one-way ticket to anywhere in Belgium. That means if you are taking a train from one side of the country to another AND back, you only pay 12 Euros.
Belgium also offers the “Weekend Pass” which essentially can be used only from Friday evening until the end of Sunday and gives you a reduced price for a there-and-back ticket (the return price is cut in half). This weekend ticket can be cheaper that the “Go Pass” in some cases depending on the distance traveled (i.e. a ticket from Leuven to Brussels is 6.70 Euros for a Weekend Pass versus 12 Euros for a Go Pass — it is only a 25 minute ride).
Tickets are easy to get, train stations all have machines where you can purchase regular tickets as well as the special passes such as the “Go Pass”. One issue though: Be ready to use either coins or a card for the machine! If you are not able to use a machine, no worries, the major train stations all have counters where you can ask for information and purchase tickets. Online purchase is always and option as well.
For those looking to get their hands even dirtier in tech travel, check out this link for details on the app to buy and hold your train tickets in Belgium.
Check out the following link for the official Belgian Rail website to get departure/arrival times and platforms as well as a price comparison tool alongside various other offers (e.g. for senior citizens and children):
Don’t wait. Go!