Trains in Belgium
 

We are flying into Brussels in the spring, May 2019. We will need to grab a train to Antwerp once off the plane, how far ahead should we obtain tickets..... im using the App GoEuro, looks to be a 45 min ride.

Don't use GoEuro or anything similar. Use the real train operator in Belgium. https://www.b-europe.com/EN

Belgian trains in general have no advantage in buying in advance, so just get your ticket at the airport after you land.

Trains in Belgium are cheap and efficient and no need to buy in advance or to make reservations. Board the first that goes to Anvers/Antwerpen.
However, do check a little bit before if they are not on stike. Belgians are very efficient when striking and on such days of national strikes there are simply no trains. It happens from time to time. I'd say once a year...
Best to have a plan B in case (rent a car, ...).
If no problem, just follow the signs, trainstation is 100 m and 2-3 floors below arrival level. Probably need to change at Bruxelles (the first you stop at).

thank you, that was my thought, what if there are delays in our flights.....and i will purchase directly.

train station is about a 25 min Uber, that works perfect,

I downloaded the SNCB app, my guess is i will be using this app when we schedule a train from Bruges to Amsterdam?

For international trains, that app might not work. You might need to visit their international version of the site.

Make sure to check prices with the operators of both countries, in this case, Belgium and the Netherlands. Sometimes prices differ and you might save some money!

And check the names of the places you go to in French or Flemish, they can vary and it can be confusing. For example you might want to disembark at Bruxelles midi, which is written Brussel zuid in flemish. Not necessarily obvious.

You can buy the ticket online in advance and print or keep on your phone. It's not for a specific train, you can take any train that day.
There are no seat reservations. No need to get an app for that, just download the ticket.

There is no Uber in Antwerp - not sure about Brussel. Do they say it takes 25 minutes to drive from Brussel to Antwerp?
Not likely during a weekday, unless at 2 am... Take the train. Traffic can be terrible on that road and Antwerp center is one big building site. Where are you staying?

Forget Uber. Forget the apps. Just buy a train ticket, in advance if you like, and keep it on your phone or print it.

Ok...... our plan is to get a (2) train tickets in advance, we land about noon in Brussels , so the tickets are for the whole day if we have issues with arrival times ??

What method of travel from the airport to the trainstation ?

the app says Brussels to Antwerp by train is 45 min

Where in Antwerp are we staying ? Great question !!! Can we AirBNB in Antwerp, i know the issues of AirBNB are hot topics currently, im asking as a visitor.....

Have no idea what you mean by "train station is about a 25 min Uber". The train station is IN the airport:

https://www.brusselsairport.be/en/pa...-parking/train

Yes twice hourly direct trains from airport- just outside arrivals area - to Antwerp take about 30 minutes - you can buy tickets in advance as stated above and use on any train - may save a few minutes waiting in line to buy tickets or from machines. You do not go thru Brussels which probably is 45 minutes from Antwerp by train.

As said in earlier post, trainstation at airport is 100 m from Arrivals, 2-3 levels down. Ils ont des yeux et ne voient point.

If no problem, just follow the signs, trainstation is 100 m and 2-3 floors below arrival level. Probably need to change at Bruxelles (the first you stop at).

that makes things simple then, thanx. We are brand new to europe :0)

As PQ already posted, there are direct trains to Antwerp every half hour. At least according to bahn.de.

thank you, so convienient !

If don't have ticket last time I was in Brussels Airport - several years ago - there was a rail desk inside the arrivals hall so when waiting for baggage to come you could buy your train tickets. And you want to go to Antwerpen Centraal not Antwerpen Berchem, another main station.

Don't know for sure but usually with open-ended tickets that can be used on any train you usually have to cancel your tickets yourself by sticking them in a date-stamping machine at entry to platforms and around the station. Failure to do so may result in a fine for not having a valid ticket - ask when buying the ticket if not clear.

Antwerp Centraal ! Many thanks again