From December 15th, a new high-speed international train will run between Brussels-Midi and Amsterdam-Zuid. Eurocity Direct is a collaboration with Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), and it will save 45 minutes of journey time. This new link joins the existing classic IC train, doubling the number of trains to the Netherlands. Ticket sales for the Eurocity Direct service began on Wednesday, October 16th. There will be a journey time of 2 hours 07 minutes on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends, with a departure every hour 49 minutes from Brussels-Midi.
The Eurocity Direct operates 16 round trips a day, stopping at the following stations: Brussels-Midi, Antwerp-Central, Rotterdam-Centraal, Schiphol and Amsterdam-Zuid. The existing IC link, now called EuroCity, will run to Rotterdam from December onwards. As before, the train will stop at Brussels-Central, Brussels-North, Brussels Airport-Zaventem, Mechelen, Antwerp-Berchem, Antwerp-Central, Noorderkempen and Breda. All existing stops in Belgium will therefore retain their connections with the Netherlands.
Like the EuroCity, the Eurocity Direct is a highly flexible train, as there’s no need to reserve your seat or train journey with the “flex” fare. The train is designed to be accessible to all. Whether you’re a business or leisure traveller wishing to explore the canals of the Dutch capital, visit its many museums or enjoy its nightlife and entertainment.
A flexible fare between Brussels and Amsterdam is already available from 64.10€ (2nd class): with the “flex” fare, travellers can take any train on the specified travel date.
Very attractive “saver” fares are also available for Eurocity Direct, valid for the chosen train on certain dates (without seat reservation). These tickets can be purchased up to a few days before the travel date. The lowest saver fare between Brussels and Amsterdam starts at 25€. Those using the “saver” fare must book a specific train, unlike the “flex” fare.
The EuroCity (today’s InterCity) runs between Brussels-Zuid and Rotterdam-Centraal: a “flex” fare between Antwerp and Rotterdam is already available from 25.20€. Saver” tickets for this route are already available from 10.10€. The EuroCity can be used for domestic travel, as is already the case with the InterCity, but not with the Eurocity Direct.
Fewer trains between Antwerp and Brussels
Passenger organization TreinTramBus has noted that the additional trains between Brussels and Amsterdam will come at the expense of domestic travel. “While the number of trains between the Netherlands and Belgium may double, the number of trains between Antwerp and Brussels will decrease by a quarter,’ said TreinTramBus president Peter Meukens, as reported by news Belgian news outlet VRT. From 15 December, only three instead of four IC trains per hour will run via Mechelen.
“In the Netherlands, domestic travelers are also allowed to use the trains, but not in Belgium,” Meukens said, as quoted by VRT. “The NMBS is banning Belgian passengers from traveling from Antwerp to Brussels on the Eurocity Direct. We cannot understand that. This will be chaos, because already now travelers are having to stand.”
