Good afternoon,
I am trying to buy train tickets for 7/22 from Bruge to Antwerp-Centraal. On google maps I see there is an hourly direct train that takes ~1 hour 25 mins. For example, leaving at 8:25am on 7/22 it is IC 1808. However, when I look on the SNCB site to buy tickets I don't see this train route as an option. I did find it on belgianrails.com, but I would prefer to book directly from the train operator. Any idea why it doesn't exist anywhere else? I know it's not absolutely necessary to book this in advance, but I like to have all of my ducks in a row before I go. I thought perhaps it might be too soon to book them, but I don't see it on earlier dates either.
Thanks for your help!
Lisa
Posted by
The Netherlands
1869 posts
There really is no point in booking your train tickets for a domestic train in Belgium this far in advance. Trains are mass transit, you can’t even buy tickets for a specific train. You buy a ticket for Bruges to Antwerp for July 22 and then you can take any train from Bruges to Antwerp on that day. Trains have free seating, tickets cost the same no matter when you buy them and they can’t sell out.
The official website of the Belgian national railway company for domestic trains is https://www.belgiantrain.be/en
Posted by
OP
10 posts
Thank you for your quick reply. I'm afraid I don't understand though. When and how would I be able to book the tickets if I can't see them on the web site? I was looking on https://www.belgiantrain.be/en. Can I not buy them until I am at the station? That would make me quite nervous, especially if I don't see the time I would like to travel on the web sites (even for a closer time...say 6/18)
--Lisa
Posted by
Wengen
3094 posts
If you go to the website you will notice that you can buy a ticket form Brugge to Antwerpen. You cannot buy tickets for specific trains. And a ticket for travel on 7/22 you buy on 7/22, there is no need to buy this in advance. Would you buy London Underground tickets months in advance?
I had a look at the website, and the direct trains are running (including the one at 8:25(. You can't however buy tickets more than 30 days in advance, and there is, again, no need to buy those tickets now.
Posted by
Lake District, England
9660 posts
To take your example -the 0825 on 22 July I am seeing that on the SNCB website, travelling from 'Bruges/Brugge' to 'Antwerpen- Centraal' arriving at 0954, leaving from Platform 9.
BUT- you can't buy tickets more than 30 days before travel.
Posted by
The Netherlands
1869 posts
It doesn’t say in your profile where you’re from, but trains in Belgium are like the subway in New York. Trains have free seating and tickets aren’t tied to a specific train. You buy a ticket for Bruged to Antwerp and you can take any train you want. Your ticket will just say Bruges to Antwerp, July 22. There won’t be a time on your ticket or a seat number, because you can take any train you want and there are no reserved seats.
Posted by
OP
10 posts
Thanks for your help. I figured out my error. I was searching for Bruges-Saint-Pierre (don't ask me why...I just had it in my head that this was the correct station). Now that I have corrected my query, I see the trains at the times I was looking for. I am content to wait and purchase later, just wanted to make sure I understood what times/routes were available as I have to arrive in Antwerp by a specific time. I was more worried about not seeing the times I expected than being able to purchase them today.
Thanks again!
Posted by
Wengen
3094 posts
There isn't even a station called "Bruges Saint Pierre". The NMBS website should really stop translating Flemish station names to French on the English version.
When using trip planners, just enter the town name, nothing else. The planner themselves will figure out the right station for you.