SNCF is to start running 3 return Ouigo trains a day between Brussels and Paris from 19 December. Trains will take 3 hours with fares between €10 and €59.
Trains will run from Paris at
08:18, arriving at 11:21
12:28, arriving at 15:21
19:15, arriving at 22:21
Trains from Brussels will depart at:
7:38, arriving in Paris at 10:36
13:38, arriving at 16:44
18:38, arriving at 21:35
That's good news a needed more affordable option for those with less money to spend. Hopefully it will lasts unlike Izy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IZY
Note that the comfort level of Ouigo seats is like riding the metro for 4 hours. It is a way to save money -- I'd prefer getting tickets early on the Thalys (Eurostar) with comfortable seats for long distance travel.
It's great to have a second option on this route.
Note that the comfort level of Ouigo seats is like riding the metro for 4 hours.
These trains are being marketed under the Ouigo brand (as Ouigo Classic), but are NOT in fact Ouigo TGV's. They run over the classic route with intermediate calls at Mons, Aulnoye and Creil.
This is a SNCF/SNCB joint venture using the very comfortable loco hauled SNCB stock which they used on the Olympics special trains, and was trailed at the time as going to happen.
This is very good rolling stock, arguably better quality than Thalys. If the two trains were the same price, and I wasn't rushing round to make the journey in the fastest possible time I would take these in preference to Thalys any day, and bring my own food and drink.
Oh that's right, Stuart makes a good point. These trains are NOT ouigo TGVs, are refurbished corails from SNCB. So — much more comfortable and nice to be able to save some money by taking a little longer on this route.
That makes all the difference.
These trains call at Mons, and Mons is a nice place to explore for a few hours. Bell tower (beffroi), Grand Place, and a few well-preserved streets: it is no Bruges, but there are hardly any tourists around.
thanks for mentioning Mons, balso. I have never turned off there although I drive past as I drive from home in England to Luxembourg and onwards to Switzerland. I have only seen the huge slurry pipe near the Grand Hornu and that doesn't do much for me. I need a break before Namur so I will turn in and look at Mons the next time I'm through.
Someone has already done a video on this new service- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yctlh5RICk
