tailsock

We will be taking a day trip to Ghent while based in Brussels next month. We are staying very close to Central Station. We'll need to reach Gent St-Pieters so my question is this:

1. Should i purchase return tickets from the US while i'm here and avoid last minute stress? (or price hikes/unvailablility)

2. If i do prepurchase do i have to select a departure time?

3. I already know that Central Station in Brussels is not the correct station to reach Ghent. We'll need Zuid Station for that. Do i still board a train at Central for this journey?

thanks!

greg

These are open seat/open train tickets. You can use any train/seat within ticket validity within the class you purchased. I think trying to buy these tickets, if even possible from the US, is probably more stressful. I bought all Belgium train tickets as I went. Just buy tickets when you are at any station before your trip. You probably arrived in Brussels by train anyway. Looks like you are coming from London.

Just don't do it in disposable undies (from your other thread )

madamtrashheap

<i>3. I already know that Central Station in Brussels is not the correct station to reach Ghent. We'll need Zuid Station for that. Do i still board a train at Central for this journey?</i>

You can use the Metro (Subway train) from where ever your accommodation is to the Zuid/Midi station, or take a taxi if a Metro station isn't convenient to your hotel.

KayF

You don't need to pre-order the ticket from Brussels to Ghent. It's just a local train, sit wherever you like. We also did a day trip to Ghent from Brussels and the train was not full. I think they ran about every 30 mins. It helps if you know the station at the end of the route, as the platform sign will probably not say Ghent.

Yes, you can board at Central, you may need to change at Midi. Check on the Brussels train website, also make sure you have a ticket before getting on at Central.

If you are travelling from London and getting the Eurostar, the onward travel in Belgium is included in your Eurostar fare, as long as it's within 24 hours. Not sure of your plans but we caught the train in Brussels the next day and used our Eurostar ticket. Just show it to the conductor when he comes through the carriages.

Kay

Cowboy1968

From Brussels Central station to Gent Sint-Pieters station you take ANY train bound for either
- Oostende or
- Knokke or
- De Panne
<b>without</b> changing at Brussels Midi.
There are 3 trains/hour. Check times at www.b-rail.be
Don't let the digital displays with the station names confuse you. They are given in both Flemish and French.

You can buy the tickets at the station, as said before.
If you wish to fuss around with SNCB's website, you can buy them online at www.b-rail.be

tailsock

i can use my eurostar ticket for travel to Ghent that same day or the next? that's AWESOME!!! thanks for that tip

greg: haha yes i actually broke down and ordered a pack! check that thread again

PalenQ

ABS - All Belgian Stations deal with the Eurostar ticket yes lets you go to any Belgian station like Kayf says - and once in Gent just buy a ticket back to Brussels - no reason to pre-buy as the Gent station should not be that crowded at ticket windows and you can use the automatic ticket machines as well. At Gent St Peter's station there are trams out front that take you to the town center or it is about a mile or so walk.

greg

2 things about ABS.

1. It is NOT automatic. You have to buy tickets that include ABS feature by paying more.

For example, there is March 7, 6:50am London-Brussels. The cheapest one-way fare is £56.00. If you want ABS feature on exactly the same train you pay £62.50 at www.eurostar.com by using "Any Belgian Station" as destination, instead of "Brussels."

2. It is within 24hrs from your arrival, not next day.

tailsock

thanks for the clarification greg. i purchased the absolute cheapest eurostar ticket possible 90 days in advance (and it says BRUSSELS on the ticket)....soooooo that crushes the ABS idea

greg

I am not sure if you can tell ABS or not by the destination alone. If it is ABS, it should say ABS or "All Belgian Stations" somewhere on the ticket. Look at your ticket carefully.

Cowboy1968

The surcharge for ABS is 6.50 in the example greg gave.
The regular train ticket for Brussels-Gent is 8.50
Those two euros you "lost" sure should not make you worry.

KayF

That's strange, we've travelled by Eurostar a fair bit and never had the option of choosing a ticket just to Brussels, or alternatively, to Any Belgium Station. All our tickets had 'to any Belgium station' on them, even though when we booked, we always chose 'From London St Pancras', 'To Brussels'. I thought all tickets were like that. Maybe they've changed the system.

Yes, as noted above, it's within 24 hours of your arrival. We arrived in Brussels in the evening and caught a train to Ghent next morning, and didn't pay any extra. We then paid for a ticket back to Brussels.

Kay

Man_in_seat_61

For the record,

Until October 2010, all Eurostar tickts to Brussels automatically included onward travel to any station in belgium.

SNCB didn't get any revenue from this arrangement, so perhaps understandably weren't to chuffed about it.

The arrangement has now ceased, and since October 2010, tickets to Brussels are only valid to Brussels (but may be used for a free-of-charge transfer between Brussels Midi and any other central Brussels station such as central or Nord).

If you want other places, you need to book to a specific destintaion called 'Any belgian Station', at a slightly higher price.

tailsock

good info... thanks folks