We will be in Bruges for three nights 12/7 - 12/10/22 having arrived from Colmar, France by train on 12/7/22.
Trying to book a single trip for morning of 12/10/22 from Bruges to Paris Nord changing trains in Bruxelles-Midi, unable to pull up schedule or book through Trainline for that day. Aware of system wide schedule changes that take place that weekend, but thought I could book by now, 57 days out? Can anyone offer answer or should I just keep trying every day? Could book same trip for day before or week before, etc., so this journey will eventually be available.
Also, when I book this train journey for earlier dates, Trainline defaults to scheduled departures combo that allow about a 20 minute connection in Bruxelles-Midi after IC Train from Bruges before taking a THALYS train to Paris.
Is a 20 minute connection enough time? Trainline does not allow me to pick and choose a later departure from Bruxelles-Midi on booking engine. Should I make two separate booking to allow for longer connection time?
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
Not sure what's up with Trainline, but you can check/book Thalys tickets from Brussels to Paris Nord on the SNCF website for that day.
And you can see on the SNCB (Belgium) website that there are a lot of direct trains from Bruges to Brussels that day (no need to book those in advance).
So you could book your Thalys ticket now if you wish to get a good price and just buy your Bruges-Brussels ticket when you get there.
Posted by
Green Bay
21218 posts
I see lots of departures on the Thalys if you go to SNCF-Connect.com. Cheaper departures are in the afternoon on Dec 10. Tickets on the connecting IC trains from Bruges are good for any train that day.
Posted by
The Netherlands
1613 posts
Trainline is a third party train ticket reseller. Instead of involving a middle man, just buy your tickets from the company that will actually operate the train you wish to take. In this case you can buy your tickets at the already mentioned SNCF website or at www.Thalys.com
Posted by
OP
Franklin, Tennessee
181 posts
Thanks for all the suggestions. Found what I wanted on Thalys and booked my Brussels-Paris Nord train. Will wait until later, probably a few days before, to book our Bruges - Brussels train. Thanks again everyone!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
You can buy the Bruges-Brussels train when you get there - as I recall there are no reservations and no discounts for buying that one early.
Posted by
Cloud
273 posts
Yeah Bruges to Brussels is a fixed price regional train route; it does not sell out no reservations needed. Any ticket you buy is good for any train any time that day on that route
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7936 posts
And remember that Bruxelles Midi is one of three downtown stations, with columns labelled both in French and in Dutch, "Zuid." Tickets good to any of the three. It is also possible to get high speed trains to Paris from Antwerp.
Posted by
Wengen
2532 posts
My rule of thumb when booking international train tickets is: "Book from the national railway of the country where the trip starts".
So for Belgium that would be www.b-europe.com
One thing to note: You can also travel via Lille. Is only a few minutes longer, involves one more change, but is often a lot cheaper.
www.b-europe.com shows both routes.