travel from Belgium to France

The crucial question is, where are you going in France? Although it may be possible to reach certain points in France by detouring through Luxembourg, for the most travelers between Belgium and France, the main artery runs from Brussels to Paris via Lille. And Leuven sits on the main line between Brussels and Liege, you couldn't even take a direct train from there to Luxembourg if you wanted to. "I read somewhere...I have to go through customs and pay fees etc. just to pass through Luxembourg to get from Belgium to France?" Where exactly did you read that bit of rubbish? Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have been in a customs union since 1948. There haven't been any border checks or fees in over 60 years. And the Schengen Agreement abolished all border checks in the EU (minus the UK) in the 1990s.

You would only have to pass through Luxembourg if you were travelling directly from Belgium to Alsace-Lorraine, where that's the most direct route. You may possibly get selected at random for a passport/customs check despite the Schengen agreement, but there's no visa charges.

Most of the border crossings from Belgium into France are nowhere near Luxembourg and you normally traverse them at about 70mph. You probably could go through Luxembourg if you were determined to! :-) Roger

I travelled from Belgium to Metz in France by train through Luxembourg last year. There was no formality at all crossing from Belgium to Luxembourg, but between Luxembourg and the first station in France there were French police passing through the train checking passports. Not very polite about it either - typical CRS!

Thank you all for the responses. Tom, I would have to do some backwards research to find that article. I think it was in a travel article, but I do not know how old it is. If I happen across it I will let you know. - Sidney

I haven't chimed in because you still haven't told us where you're traveling TO in France, so it's a moot question. From Leuven, I'd take a wild stab that you're most likely going through Brussels; listen to Tom, he lived in Belgium until very recently. So, where are you going in France? Then we can tell you EXACTLY where you'll be crossing the border...so you can rest easy.

For the record, I've never lived in Belgium, but I've spent (and continue to spend) a lot of time there... particularly around Leuven and Hasselt.

Oh, I'm sorry. I should have replied much earlier to Tom. The travel advice I received from my friend (who lives in Holsbeek) is starting Bruxelles-Midi to Paris Nord to Paris Montparnasse to
Chatellerault (destination) Sidney

Sidney, your official border crossing town is actually Brussels; you don't stop until Paris...I've taken that train a dozen times...so, no hassle! And to Tom - Eh, close enough ;-)

To Tom - Here is the language I was talking about: "From France As according to an agreement with the CFL, the Belgian railways are directing all passenger trains to France through Luxembourg (thus causing an extra unnecessary border crossing), it may be useful to cross the border directly, on foot. The terminus of the French railways in Longwy can be reached from the Belgian train station of Halanzy (the line operates only on work days, however), or from the bigger Belgian stations of Arlon or Virton." This is the link:
C:\Documents and Settings\Sidney Administrator\Desktop\Belgium travel guide - Wikitravel.mht It appears that I will not have to get out and cross the border at Luxembourg on foot, eh? :-) Sidney

Sorry that was a bad link. Here is the correct link. http://wikitravel.org/en/Belgium Sidney

According to the NMBS (Belgian national rail) website, Halanzy is no longer serviced by rail. And I found a few other errors on that page, so in my book, Wikitravel is highly suspect. Enjoy Leuven, and if the university is in session, get a beer on the Oude Markt (not the Grote Markt, with the stadthuis) some night.

The timetables on the German Rail show several routes for Leuven-Chatellerault.

Thanks for the information folks. I am looking forward to my trip. - Sidney