I have been watching regularly on Trainline, SCNF and Eurostars own website to see when Eurostar tickets would be available for Paris to Antwerp for December 7. But both December 6 and 7 show no Eurostar trains available to either Antwerp or Brussels those two days. I know about December seasonal timetable changes but other days that month the Eurostar direct train from Paris to Antwerp is available. And I know about track works sometimes putting off when they can fill in the schedule. But if trackworks explains it any thoughts as to when these might be released? Or when I might be able to tell there never will be any Eurostar trains those days. I could go ahead and book the less than ideal OUIGO to Brussels and then a separate ticket from Brussels to Antwerp? OUIGO is showing at least two trains from Paris to Brussels on December 7, one about 8 am the other about noon. But OUIGO takes longer even to Brussels and means our trip to Antwerp is not direct. Appreciate any insight you may have.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8535 posts
Small insight: I honestly don't know how and if they are integrated today, but the direct train to Antwerp was formerly a Thalys product, while direct to Brussels-Midi/Zuid was always Eurostar. Because there are five or more trains from Brussels to Antwerp every HOUR, having a non-direct trip is not so bad, and there is no penalty for missing the connection you hoped for. And it's historically (at least) a common plan.
You don't mention if you are a rock-bottom price customer?
Posted by
OP
Chicago, IL, USA
619 posts
Not a rock bottom customer. Just preferred the direct service to Antwerp and the flexibility of Eurostar rather than OUIGO.
Posted by
Belgium
143 posts
but the direct train to Antwerp was formerly a Thalys product, while direct to Brussels-Midi/Zuid was always Eurostar
Nope, before the fusion in 2023 it was Thalys between Paris and Brussels (and Antwerp). Eurostar was the connection London-Paris and London-Brussels. But this really doesn't matter anymore.
I've no idea about the reason for the non availability of Eurostar in the WE of 6-7 december and I've no idea if this could still change.
Another solution could also be the TGV from Paris-Nord to Lille-Flanders where you change on a belgian regional train to Antwerp. Total travel time will be 3Hr30'. You can find this solution on the Belgian International railway website (From Paris-Nord to Antwerpen-Centraal) https://www.b-europe.com/EN
In case you choose the OUIGO, you can plan your trip from Brussels-Midi to Antwerp-Centraal on the Belgian National railway website https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8965 posts
My guess is that there is work going on that weekend on the high speed lines.
I do see options for Dec. 7 on the Eurostar site, but, nothing before 12:15, and they all require a change, usually in Lille, and only to a Brussels station. When I have seen this before, it is due to maintenance work.
Getting from Brussels to Antwerp is no problem, there are frequent trains, the direct ones take not much longer than Eurostar.
Posted by
LA
17 posts
Not sure in this situation but when we were in Belgium in March/April, there were train strikes in Belgium that wrecked our plans and we ended up using FlixBus. It all worked in the end but was slower, cheaper and less convenient.
Posted by
OP
Chicago, IL, USA
619 posts
Many thanks to all. I think I will keep watch a bit longer, perhaps to early November and see if any change. If not will likely book one of those alternatives.
Posted by
Belgium
143 posts
Begin of august, the dates 8,9,10 and 11 Novembre, 29 and 30 Novembre and 6 and 7 December were greyed out https://postimg.cc/Q9Z8Fx43
Now only 6 and 7 December is still greyed out. Fingers crossed, this could also still change.