Trains?
 

Thank you everyone for helping me plan my trip to Belgium, this July 1-11. This board is incredible! Now, I need suggestions on trains. I've never taken any trains during any travels so I'm not sure where to begin. Here's our plan,

Amsterdam (Breda) to Antwerp (De Witte Lelie)
Antwerp to Brugge (Romantik Pandhotel)
Brugge to Brussels (Welcome Hotel)

Which trains are the best? Any station suggestions for each location? Warnings? Suggestions for train travel? How do you go about getting tickets, in advance or wait till you get there?

Thanks

I'll be visiting some of these places in a couple of weeks, a few weeks before you're there. I'm planning to get tickets while I'm there. I doubt that getting tickets in advance will be cheaper -- but more experienced posters will no doubt correct me if this is wrong. Train tickets are quite cheap and run quite regularly, but to get an idea you can check the Thalys and the Belgium rail websites.

I think that Bruges and Antwerp have just one train station. I'd suspect that Amsterdam has only one in the city too (Central Station). Brussels has a couple, but I think that Central is the relevant station (the one closest to Grand'Place).

For these journeys, just use ordinary Intercity trains - they run at least every hour, you don't reserve seats and there is no reason to buy tickets in advance. Just buy tickets at the station and get on the train. Check schedules on www.bahn.de.

Why bahn.de?

Check http://www.b-rail.be/
and http://www.thalys.com/

if you want to look at schedules.

Actually, I just looked at the Thalys website. If you're really well-organized then you may have the possibility of saving 8E on the Amsterdam to Antwerp leg by buying the Smilys return (27E). The single ticket is 35E. It's not a very huge saving though.

I think that you can buy the rest of the train tickets if you're there.

I suggest the Deutsche Bahn's web site because it usually gives very quick responses and gives train times for the whole of Europe. For Amsterdam-Antwerpen-Brugge-Brussels, you do not want to use Thalys.

Certainly Amsterdam to Antwerp is regarded as part of the Thalys route. You may want to take a look if you haven't, Geoff.

In any case, someone on this board has told me that there's virtually no difference between the more local trains and the Thalys trains on this route.

If there is virtually no difference then why pay more on a Thalys?

Thalys do not go to Antwerpen Centraal, only to Antwerpen-Berchem. For comparison, from Amsterdam Centraal to Antwerpen-Berchem, the hourly intercity trains take 2 hrs 6 mins, while the less frequent Thalys take 1 hr 59 mins. There isn't a high-speed line yet between Amsterdam and Brussels, so Thalys run on the same tracks as the ordinary trains.

Does the Thalys cost more for Amsterdam -> Antwerp? I remember checking the Dutch rail website and adding all the point-to-point tickets (Amsterdam -> Den Haag -> Rotterdam -> Antwerp, etc.) and I remember thinking that it was basically the same as the fare posted on Thalys.com (and someone else told me about this too, I think).

Didn't realize that Antwerp has two stations though -- thanks.

Ok, some more info regarding train stations, per Belgian rail's website:

http://www.b-rail.be/rnvn/E/welcome/

Now I'm really confused. Can someone please simplify???

For trains in and out of Amsterdam try the Netherlands Rail site at
http://www.ns.nl. It has all trains, type, services, and connections. Click International and English.

Why do you have Breda in parentheses next to Amsterdam? Breda is much closer to Antwerp. Berchem station is on the outskirts of Antwerp. Central is in the city. Use Centraal Station in Amsterdam.

The best trains are the Thalys. IC and ICE are also good if they make these runs. There is hourly srvice on an International Express train from Amsterdam Centraal to Antwerp Berchem. Then you hop a local train to Antwerp Central.

There are schedules and track indications posted in all Dutch train stations on yellow back-lit boards next to a map of the country. International train schedules are also posted. It's hard to get lost. Everybody speaks English so ask if you find yourself in need.

I hope that clears it up. I write this by second nature so if something isn't clear post again.

Inkspot,
1) There's absolutely no need to pay a lot more for a Thalys train ride that takes as long as a ride on a normal intercity train.
2) Are you traveling from Amsterdam or from Breda? If from A'dam, there's a direct intl train that takes about 2 hours to Antwerpen (get off at Antwerpen Centraal and NOT at Antwerpen Berchem). If you come from Breda, there's no direct connection with Antwerp and you will have to change at Roosendaal (last stop before the Dutch/Belgian border).
3) Antwerp-Brugge: you'll have to get off in Brugge (not Brugge St. Pieters). Trains leave Antwerpen Centraal at 6 min. after every hour and 37 min. after every hour. Journey takes 1 hr 21 min.
4) Brugge-Brussel: for the Welcome, I think you'll have to get off at Brussel Centraal (someone else should confirm this!). Trains are at .31 and .57 and journey is about an hour.
5) Tickets: no reservations possible on any of the trains (except Thalys). You buy your ticket at the ticket office in the station on the day of traveling. (or before, but then you should mention the exact date 'cause your ticket is only valid on a specific date).

The most practical website IMO is the one of the Dutch railways, both for national and international connections. Also accurate information on construction works (delays!) on the train lines. The website is http://www.ns.nl/international/index.cgi

Myriam: We will be staying with friends in Breda for the weekend, then leaving Monday to go to Antwerp, then onto Brugge, then down to Brussels

After seeing the inkspot's and Myriam's replies, I realized that I should have kept my mouth shut. :-)

I do believe that Brussels-Central is closest for the Welcome Hotel. This from the hotel's website:

"Situated in a quiet street in the heart of Brussels at Place St. Catherine - the old Fish Market of Brussels, 6 minutes walking from the famous Grand Place. The subway station Sainte-Catherine located just in front of the hotel, will connect you to the Central Station, the European Union Headquarters and the Heyzel Exhibition Park."

(http://www.hotelwelcome.com/)

I checked all info I'm posting on www.b-rail.be

Breda-Antwerp: either you take the .42 train to Roosendaal and switch there to a train to Antwerpen-Centraal or you take the .18 train to Roosendaal, and take a train to Antwerpen-Berchem, and switching again to any of the numberous trains that go to A'pen-Centraal. The second option has 2 stops, but is still faster than the first one!

Antwerpen-Brugge: The .37 trains go straight to Brugge, the .06 ones require a change in Ghent. Price 11.40€

Brugge-Brussels: The .28 and the .55 go straight to Brussel Centraal. Price 10.90€

Buy your tickets just in the station as you go. On peak hours, allow yourself 15 minutes to get them.

Now if you are under 26, travelling more than 2 people and/or planning to make extra train travels in Belgium, I suggest you to buy one of the Rail Passes. They allow 10 individual rides to wherever in Belgium for multiple people. A Go Pass (-26) costs 41.50€, a Rail Pass (+26) costs 62€.