I'm needing to take a train from Brussels to Aachen on Thurs. afternoon. I was told that the ICE train is more comfortable than the Thalys train, but when I go to purchase a ticket on their site, it says it has to be five days from my travel date. Is it possible to buy a ticket on the ICE train at the time of departure?

Yes, unless it's sold out. They just don't do online booking this close to departure.

reservations are not required on ICE trains and i believe you can always board even if seats are full - unlike French TGVs, Thalys, eurostar, etc.

Thanks for the clarifications, PalenqueBob.

Actually, the OP can still book the ICE fare on www.b-rail.be. I tried and it went through. But of course, the ICE is 2.4 Euro more expensive (29.4 vs 27), no seat reservations (if I understand this), and 4 minutes slower.

Thanks everyone. I was told by a couple of people that the ICE train was more comfortable.

Having ridden both many times i'm not sure i'd agree that one is more comfy than the other. Could depend on what type of ICE carriage you're in - new or older. In first class on Thalys you get a snack and a drink in the fare.

I wonder if others find that ICEs are nicer than Thalys?

I decided to proceed directly from Brussells to Aachen and was ab;e to get on a Thalys train an hour after I reached Brussells midi, It worked out really well for me.

>I wonder if others find that ICEs are nicer than Thalys?

There is only one type of ICE on the line to Brussels - ICE3, the newest one. I find the seats in the ICE more to my liking than the TGV/Thalys seats, but it is not a big difference.
Indeed, the difference between ICE and Thalys on this line is that ICE tickets can't be sold out.