I have a Benelux Eurorail pass. We are traveling from Colmar France to Amsterdam via Brussels. I am trying to determine if the train I have reserved, #296, travels thru Germany. The Raileurope people said "no", but I am still concerned. I have the Cook's RR guide and I have looked at Raileurope, and the German and French rail sites. No luck. Anyone got any ideas? Kate
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Kate...the EC (EuroCity) 296 (leaves Colmar 7:30 am weekdays?) won't be a problem. It makes a brief journey out of France to stop at Luxembourg city before re-entering France, crossing into Belgium and ending at Brussels.....no crossing into Germany. However, I notice that train 296 also only stops at three less popular Brussels stations....Luxembourg, Schuman, and Nord. So the question is what train are you taking AFTER that to get to Amsterdam? Many of the trains fom Brussels Nord take a winding route to Amsterdam, travelling to Antwerp, then into Germany with stops at Rosenthal and Dordrecht before heading back into the Netherlands and Rotterdam, ending up at Amsterdam Zuid (not Centraal). Make sure you aren't stuck with one of these! I also assume you're paying separately for the French portion of the journey?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
From the bahn.de site here is the route for EC 296. After stopping at the stations Norm lists it goes on to stop at Bruxelles-Central and Bruxelles-Midi.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
So it does...Thanks Tim! But if RailEurope has booked her onwards to Amsterdam, they might stick her with the connection at Brussels Nord that will take her into Germany and wind its way around before it gets to Amsterdam.