Train journey from Brussels to Maastricht, Netherlands

Boy is this going to look ugly because we can't format, but below is (I hope) the response from the DB website. If it proves impossible to read, use the link to their website and put in your details. DB traditionally gives the best impartial information. -=-=- The website is www.bahn.co.uk -=-=-=- Lets try: [INVALID]ion single ride Station/Stop Date Time Platform Products Bruxelles-Midi Mo, 18.10.10 dep 19:28 THA 9453 Thalys Subject to compulsory reservation, Global price, Bordbistro, space for wheelchairs, parent-and-children compartment Liège-Guillemins Mo, 18.10.10 arr 20:11 Liège-Guillemins Mo, 18.10.10 dep 20:21 R 5370 Regionalzug Maastricht Mo, 18.10.10 arr 20:50 4b Duration: 1:22; runs daily, not 1., 11. Nov Border crossing: Vise(fr) Fares not available Station/Stop Date Time Platform Products Bruxelles-Midi Mo, 18.10.10 dep 19:57 IC 518 Intercity Liège-Guillemins Mo, 18.10.10 arr 21:00 Liège-Guillemins Mo, 18.10.10 dep 21:23 R 5371 Regionalzug Maastricht Mo, 18.10.10 arr 21:50 4b Duration: 1:53; runs Mo - Fr, not 1., 11. Nov Border crossing: Vise(fr) Fares not available Station/Stop Date Time Platform Products Bruxelles-Midi Mo, 18.10.10 dep 20:57 IC 519 Intercity Liège-Guillemins Mo, 18.10.10 arr 22:00 Liège-Guillemins Mo, 18.10.10 dep 22:21 R 5372 Regionalzug Maastricht Mo, 18.10.10 arr 22:50 4b Duration: 1:53; runs daily, not 1., 11. Nov

So digging through all that you leave St Pancras at 1604 (be in the queue to check in well before 4pm), take the Intercity from Brussels Zuid to Liege. That's about half an hour after the Thalys and arrives in Maastricht about an hour after you would have done if taking the Thalys.

So, in detail: -=- Mo, 18.10.10 dep 19:57 on train IC 518 which is an Intercity to Liège-Guillemins. Arrives there Mo, 18.10.10 at 21:00. Depart at 21:23 on R5371 which is a regional train which gets to Maastricht at 21:50 on platform 4b. Total duration: 1:53; runs Mo - Fr, not 1., 11. Nov -=-=-=- Hope that helps, have a nice visit to Maastricht. Do you like spa and sauna places? The 2000 is a great place about 10 miles out of Maastrich.

Don't overthink this. Although your ticket on the Eurostar train obligates you to ride a certain train, at a certain time, and sit in a certain seat, the same is not true on Belgian rail (meaning, the national rail company, NMBS, not Thalys). As long as your ticket shows the destination and date, it doesn't matter which train you take. The Brussels-Leuven-Liege corridor is one of the busiest commuter rail lines in Belgium, and usually throughout the day, at least two intercity trains depart every hour. Even if you miss one train, you probably won't have to wait any longer than 30 minutes to catch the next one. I'm not sure exactly how it will work once you get to Liege for your transfer, but the same thing applies with the national rail company of the Netherlands- you can use your ticket on any train that day. Don't cause yourself more confusion and needless worrying by trying to nail down the exact time or train. In Brussels, just look at the departure board for the next IC train to Liege... and realize that in certain places, the Dutch name of the city, Luik, may be used instead.

Thanks both, that does help. I think the schedule you gave Nigel is the one since my ticket from NSHispeed shows I arrive Maastricht at 21:50. And I appreciate Tom letting me know that "Luik" also means Liege!! Looooong journey with the stopovers :(