Can someone pls advise about Brussels train stations and Eurostar

[CormorantStrikesBack]

Sorry I’ve tried googling and Eurostar website and they say different things.

currentky in ghent and will be catching a train to Brussels tomorrow to get the Eurostar to London. Google says the train from Ghent will get into the Brussels midi station and then I need to walk 28 mins to a Eurostar station. Eurostar website says they leave Brussels from the midi station. Do I need to change station and if so what’s the easiest way.

at Brussels is there all the passport and security stuff the same as at London? The website says get there 20 mins before departure which doesn’t seem like long enough to do passport checks

I don't know for sure where the Ghent train arrives, but the Eurostar definitely leaves from Brussels Midi. There are all the same checks as in London, so unless you are first class or have a Carte Blanche they normally recommend an hour I think.

Also - in case this is what is confusing, Brussels-Midi and Brussels-Zuid are the same station!

Yes the Eurostar leaves from Brussels Midi so assuming that is where your Ghent train gets in then you should be fine. The other main stations are Central (which is probably about a half hour walk) and Nord.

I would allow an hour for security and passport checks as there can be queues.

Thank you. That helps a lot. I’m fairly sure the Ghent train gets in to midi station.

The train from Ghent will stop at Brussels Midi (as well as other stations in Brussels so watch out). It's then a couple of minutes' walk to the eurostar terminal (it's inside the main station as well). I'd say you need to be there at least an hour before, same checks as London side.

Its been a good few years since I've done it...

Brussels itself is a massive station so takes a while to get to the Eurostar bit.

But then the Eurostar bit is a lit smaller than London so they were just calling each train load through at a time.

My inward train was delayed but after a pull pent run with a 5 and 6yo plus luggage I was on a train in 22 minutes after pulling in. I made it with seconds to spare to check in (closed 15 minutes before) and they basically propelled us through security, passport control and up the escalator onto the train.

Agggh I thought midi was another word for central This is the Ghent train stops. Do I just get off a stop early?

Looks like the stop before is Brussels-Midi/Zuid according to that screenshot, so yes get off one stop early!

Most trains that go to/through Brussels stop at all the stations. If not you can literally get on any train from Brussels Centrale and go one stop to Midi (nobody will check your ticket!)

I think Midi is Walloon and Zuid is Flemish, so two names for the same station. Central is definitely a different station, so looks like get off a stop early according to that image….

OP have you downloaded the SNCB (Belgian rail) app? We found it very useful when we were there.

Thanks think I know what to do now. This two name thing is confusing. I got a train from lille the other day which google said I needed to change at Kortjek. And I was on a train going to Coutrai and was nearly there when I realised it was the same place!

Just downloaded it now. Thanks

And now rather stressfully I have a travel alert when I view my tickets saying my Eurostar may be delayed tomorrow. Only may. And no indication of by how long.

I’m invited to do nothing, cancel and get a refund or change times free of charge

I could get a train two hours earlier but it means getting up earlier and then a 4 hour wait in London for the train home. As it is I have allowed for a 2 hour wait in London incase of a slight delay. But if we’re delayed by more than 1hr 45mins we’ll miss our train home. And the 50% refund from Eurostar won’t cover new train tickets home.

and the Eurostar app under tomorrow’s timetable shows no hint of a delay.

That's odd - have never had that! I do know that if you miss your onward train because of a Eurostar delay they write something on your ticket and you are supposed to not have to pay extra for the next train. But I've never actually had to try it, so can't be sure it actually works. And it wouldn't help if the next train was full. Stressful...

We changed in Brussels on way back from Amsterdam, it’s took over an hour to get through security and immigration

Thanks. I’ve realised the bit I was looking at was for trains not going to London. The London bit says two hours before departure

Fingers crossed they’d do that. I’ve sent them a contact us form asking what’s going on. And had an email reply obviously from a bot saying they don’t do printed timetables!

Hope you had a lovely time in Ghent, I have been several times before and it is only a few minutes walk in Zuid/Midi station between trains.

The language issue seems a big one in Belgium- don't walk up and speak French in a Korenmarkt restaurant as I did one evening!

so true. I’m maybe a bit daft but assumed people in Belgium spoke French. Was stunned it’s all Dutch. I’ve read up now on the different areas. I’m just speaking English to everyone and thankfully they all seem fluent.