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Alternative transportation needed from Amsterdam to Brugge via Antwerp due to train strike.

Posted by (LA) on

Hi All,

I am hoping all you knowledgeable and helpful people can assist us in navigating this.

We leave Amsterdam 3/25 for Brugge. We had train tickets booked from Amsterdam to Brugge via Antwerp but received notice that there is a train strike through 3/31 and our journey from Amsterdam to Antwerp has been cancelled and we were given warning that Belgian regional trains will have limited to no service.

Our original plan was to spend half a day-ish in Antwerp and to continue on to Brugge. Then day trip from Brugge via train to Ghent.

We also have train tickets on 3/28 from Brugge to Paris via Lille. The Lille to Paris portion is Eurostar and they say Eurostar service should not be affected. However, we still need to get from Brugge to Lille for the Eurostar.

I looked into car rental and it is prohibitively expensive, likely due to being a way rental between different countries. I’m sure busses are an option but haven’t had time (I’m at work) to look much.

Any suggestions are welcomed and greatly appreciated! (We are 2 adults and 2 kids 10 and 4)

Thank you!

Posted by
9008 posts

Flixbus run direct services from Amsterdam to Bruges. You will lose your Antwerp time but it is one option.
Another is the Dutch train to Vlissengen, the Westerschelde ferry across the river to Breskens and then citybus to Bruge (de lijn #42 I think) That is a very old time honoured route.
Flixbus have one daily departure from Bruges to Lille and Paris.

I'm pretty sure that de Lign have a city bus to Zeebrugge, then the coastal tram to it's terminus at De Panne, free bus to Dunkirk then train to Lille and Paris.

SNCB are saying some service will run each day, but only confirmed the previous night.

This is sketchy as I'm mobile at the moment so can't look up the details. Google the above for details.

Posted by
13 posts

isn31c, bless you!

That is a wealth of information, thank you so much for sharing! I appreciate it.

Our Eurostar from Lille departs at 10:12. I’ll have to see if we can make those connections to arrive in time for our departure.

Thanks again!

Posted by
2790 posts

is the Lille to Paris portion Eurostar or TGV? If Eurostar it will be a services that originated in London, so won't be affected by a strike in Belgium. If it is a TGV then probably not either.

I grew up half way between Gent and Brugge, and my parents still live there. They often use this company for transfers to airports or to Lille (for the TGV)
https://www.speedyairportservice.be

Posted by
13 posts

Hi WengenK,

Thank you! We are n Eurostar. That just might be the perfect solution for our family. Then we don’t have to worry about timing and juggling children and luggage through transfers etc.

Love to all RS forum members! Thank you for sharing, this is priceless info.

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