We are scheduled to arrive at Brussels Airport Sunday morning at 8;45 A.M. on Delta (October 4). We want to get to Amsterdam and I see that there are direct trains. My question is how much time to allow between our arrival (allowing a little bit for late arrival) and the train. We will certainly take a direct train and probably travel with first class tickets, if that helps. There is a train around 11:00 A.M. and I'd like to take that unless that does not allow enough time.

Thanks for your help.

That should be plenty of time, unless your plane is really late. It's not that huge an airport and the train station is at the lowest level right in the same terminal where Delta flights land (B). So you just have to get through immigration and collect your bags if you checked any and go down to the basement level.

Trains leave Zaventem Airport hourly at :11 after the hour and go direct to Amsterdam, not going thru central Brussels - these are IC trains with no seat reservations possible I believe and with a ticket you can ride any IC train - so just pop over to the Rail Desk inside the arrivals area where you pick up bags and buy a ticket that can be used on any train - and get the next one - no need to buy early as these are flat fare tickets so just wait and put angst to rest - there will be a train within an hour.

For lots of good info on European trains check: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

And yes first class is a WISE investment on those IC trains - I've taken them lots and 2nd class can be SRO - you never know but first class will usually be half full or so - well worth it especially with bags.

Perfect! Pal, you've taken a huge load off my mind! Thanks

thanks to you 2! and the bloke at the airport rail desk/station will speak great English - ask him/her about having to cancel your own ticket - if a full-fare ticket you may have to stick it in some cancelling machine on the platform or at the entry to it - not doing so may be considered riding without a valid ticket and you could be heftily fined - IME Dutch and Belgian train conductors are some of the most sticklers for not giving folks slack.

Not sure what is valid now so ask - a full fare ticket if not cancelled could be used again on other trains sometimes and not all trains have conductors on them these days so that's the usual policy to make sure everyone cancels their potentially re-useable tickets.