Coronavirus: impact on your international train travel

Since 14 June 2021, Thalys has increased its frequencies as follows:

• 6 to 7 returns between Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam
• 2 returns between Paris, Brussels, Cologne and Essen (continues to Dortmund on Saturdays and Sundays)
• 1 extra return between Brussels and Paris

From 3 July to 21 August 2021, Thalys Sun will provide 1 weekly return between Amsterdam, Brussels and Marseille.

As a preventive measure, the Premium on-board services are temporarily suspended and the Thalys Welcome Bar remains temporarily closed. However, the Thalys lounges at Brussels-Midi and Paris Nord have been accessible again since 14 June.

Thalys will not be serving Charles de Gaulle Airport and Marne-la-Vallée until further notice.

Wearing a face mask (or any alternative that covers nose and mouth) is mandatory on Thalys trains.

Travelling to and within France

Since 9 June 2021, the flow of travelers between France and foreign countries has been reopened according to modalities which vary according to the health situation of each country. Travelers from a green country (including Belgium) must present either a vaccination certificate (complete vaccination) or a negative (or antigenic) PCR test of less than 72 hours (except for frontier workers). Please check www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus (in french) for more information about containment measures applicable in France.

Travelling to the Netherlands

Since 24 June 2021, travelers from Belgium are no longer submitted to the obligation of showing a negative PCR test or to the obligation of a quarantine. Please check www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19 (in dutch) for more information about containment measures applicable in the Netherlands. 

Travelling to Germany

There are specific compulsory measures for entering Germany. The German health ministry requires that anyone traveling directly from an area defined as at risk by the Robert Koch Institute should leave their contact and travel details. This can be done through this online form.

In the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (including Aachen and Cologne), it has been mandatory to wear an FFP2 mask on public transport since Saturday 24/04/21. Any other type of mask or form of mouth and nose covering is no longer allowed in transports of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Commercial measures concerning Thalys tickets

Any Thalys Ticket purchased between 9 March 2021 and 31 December 2021 can be exchanged for another travel date (exchange free of charge for Standard, Comfort, Youth and Senior fares, or for a fee of €5 for Standard Mini, Comfort Mini, Youth Mini, Premium Mini and Group Mini fares). Only the possible price difference between the original ticket and the new ticket should be paid for.

Passengers whose Thalys train is cancelled can address their original point of sales for a free exchange or a full refund until 30 days after the original travel date.

Eurostar has revised their timetables and are operating a limited number of trains:

• 1 train a day in both directions between London, Brussels and Amsterdam
• 1 train a day in both directions between London and Paris (2 trains as from 18 May 2021)

Wearing a face mask on Eurostar is obligatory. Please read the information below about travelling from and to the UK.

For travel from London to Brussels
Since 25 December 2020, a negative PCR test of max. 72 hours is required for all people aged from 6 years not residing in Belgium, regardless of their nationality.

For travel from London to Paris or Lille
A negative PCR COVID test is required to travel to or via France. You are not allowed to travel if you do not have a negative PCR COVID test result taken less than 72 hours before travel. Since 31 January 2021, a travel certificate (declaration on honour that you are travelling for essential reasons) must be presented at checks on arrival in France.

For travel from London to the Netherlands
Only essential travel is allowed to the Netherlands. All travellers need to have proof of a negative PCR test result taken less than 72 hours before travel.

Important - for all destinations, please carry a printed copy of your test results with you.

Travelling to the UK

• A negative PCR test of max. 72 hours will be required before embarking for all travellers aged 11 years and more entering the UK (including British citizens and residents) from outside the common travel area (UK, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and Ireland). Test result must be in either English, French or Spanish. Translations will not be accepted, and you must provide the original test result certificate. Please check the website of the British government for the full regulations about these tests.
• To protect your health and others’, everyone must complete an online Public Health Passenger Locator form before arrival in the United Kingdom.
• All travellers must self-isolate for 10 days on arrival in the UK unless they are exempted. If you have traveled to a country on the red list established by the British government in the last 10 days, your quarantine period must be done in one of the quarantine hotels provided for this purpose by the British authorities. Your hotel must be reserved before your departure. Please see the UK government site for more info on quarantine. Please check the list of exempted countries before travelling, as well as the list of work related exemptions if you travel for professional reasons.
• All travelers are required to be re-tested on days 2 and 8 of their quarantine. These tests must be booked before your departure. Please read more information about the quarantine and tests.
• Self-isolated travellers can shorten their isolation period by means of the Test to Release programme.
• It is a legal requirement that you wear a face covering on public transport in the UK.

IMPORTANT – passengers are required to enter the booking reference for their day 2 and 8 quarantine COVID tests on their Passenger Locator Form. Passengers must ensure that they enter the testing INVOICE number. This 7-digit number is issued in a second and separate email after the booking confirmation. Unfortunately, Passenger Locator Forms will not be accepted by the UK authorities without the invoice number and passengers will not be able to travel.

Failure to comply with the above measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. If you have booked Eurostar tickets on behalf of other people, you are also responsible for ensuring all members of their party are aware of these requirements and have completed the form.

What you need to know when entering the UK >

Travelling to and within France

From Sunday 24 January 2021 onwards, every traveller entering France must possess a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours. Please check www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus (in french) for more information about containment measures applicable in France..

Flexible exchange of Eurostar tickets

For travel between 08/09/20 and 30/09/21 inclusive :

• You can easily rearrange your trip without paying an exchange fee up to 7 full days before departure. You’ll only pay the possible difference in fare (if applicable).
• You can still change your booking within 7 days of your departure, but you’ll need to pay a €40 exchange fee for Standard tickets, plus any difference in fare.

Since 3 May 2021, TGV INOUI is operating its normal schedule again between Brussels and France.

Wearing a mask is mandatory on all trains and public transport in France (no alternatives such as scarves or buffs allowed). Please read the safety measures applicable in French trains and stations (French).

Travelling to and within France

Since 9 June 2021, the flow of travelers between France and foreign countries has been reopened according to modalities which vary according to the health situation of each country. Travelers from a green country (including Belgium) must present either a vaccination certificate (complete vaccination) or a negative (or antigenic) PCR test of less than 72 hours (except for frontier workers). Please check www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus (in french) for more information about containment measures applicable in France.

TGV tickets for journeys from 5 January to 29 August 2021 can be exchanged for free or entirely refunded until 3 days before the scheduled travel date (in the case of an exchange, only the possible price difference between the original and the new ticket will be charged). If cancelled less than 3 days before the departure, the ticket's usual fare conditions will apply.

The IC Netherlands trains are operating a normal service between Brussels and Amsterdam / The Hague. However, the on-board catering service is temporarily suspended.

Wearing a mask is mandatory on all trains and public transport in the Netherlands from the age of 13 (no alternatives such as scarves or buffs allowed).

Please read all safety measures applicable in trains and stations in the Netherlands.

Travelling to the Netherlands

Since 24 June 2021, travelers from Belgium are no longer submitted to the obligation of showing a negative PCR test or to the obligation of a quarantine. Please check www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19 (in dutch) for more information about containment measures applicable in the Netherlands. 

Note for Dutch residents

The Dutch authorities are urging persons residing in the Netherlands who have visited a region or country classified red or orange (including Belgium) to quarantine themselves for 10 days. More specifications about the quarantine (in Dutch).

Tickets purchased after 17 September 2020 are subject to the refund conditions of the selected fare. Exception: Early Bird tickets for trips up to 30 April 2021 can be exchanged free of charge until the day before the originally scheduled departure provide the new travel date is at least 7 days in the future too. If there is a price difference between the old and the new ticket, only the difference will be due.

If you want to exchange your Early Bird ticket, please contact us on +32 (0)2 801 90 10 or address our ticket offices at SNCB stations with international ticket sales (when changing your tickets online, our systems will apply the normal fare conditions).

From 5 May to 11 June 2021, the ICE service on the Brussels-Cologne-Frankfurt connection will be limited to 4 trains a day in each direction. Before 5 May and as from 12 June 2021, ICE trains operate with their normal frequence of 7 trains a day. However, the BordBistro remains closed. 

Wearing a mask is obligatory on all ICE trains. In the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (including Aachen and Cologne), it has even been mandatory to wear an FFP2 mask on public transport since Saturday 24/04/21. Any other type of mask or form of mouth and nose covering is no longer allowed in transports of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Please read the safety measures applicable in trains and stations in Germany (German).

Travelling to Germany

All German Länder are taking measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. In order to travel safely during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is recommended to respect the instructions of local authorities, the German Ministry of Health (page in German), the German Ministry of the Interior (page in German), the German police (page in German), and the Robert-Koch Institute (page in German).

There are currently specific obligatory measures for entering Germany. The German health ministry requires that anyone traveling directly from an area defined as at risk by the Robert Koch Institute should leave their contact and travel details. This can be done through this online form.

Commercial measures

Tickets purchased after 13/03/20 are subject to the fare's normal travel and refund conditions. Deutsche Bahn recommends to opt for a flexible fare if you have any doubt about maintaining your trip.

Wearing a mask is mandatory on trains and all trains and public transport in France (no alternatives such as scarves or buffs allowed). Please read the safety measures applicable in regional trains and stations of northern France (French).

Travelling to and within France

Since 9 June 2021, the flow of travelers between France and foreign countries has been reopened according to modalities which vary according to the health situation of each country. Travelers from a green country (including Belgium) must present either a vaccination certificate (complete vaccination) or a negative (or antigenic) PCR test of less than 72 hours (except for frontier workers). Please check www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus (in french) for more information about containment measures applicable in France.

Tickets for travel until 31 January 2021 are fully refundable at their original point of sale until the mentioned travel date. Tickets for travelling after 31 January 2021 are subject to the usual refund conditions of the chosen fare.

Wearing a mask is compulsory on trains operating in Luxembourg. You can use a homemade mask, bandana or scarf to protect yourself and others, throughout your trip. Please read the safety measures applicable in trains and stations of Luxembourg.

Tickets for journeys to and from Luxembourg until 31 January 2021 included can be fully reimbursed until the initially scheduled travel date via their original point of sale. Tickets for travelling after 31 January 2021 are subject to the usual refund conditions of the chosen fare.

Since 26 May 2021, Nighjet trains have resumed 3 direct overnight services a week between Brussels and Vienna.

It is obligatory to wear an FFP2 mask on board except in your cabin if you are alone or only accompanied by members of your family or "social bubble".

Before entering Austria, you must register less than 72h before you depart by means of the Pre-Travel Clearance available on www.oesterreich.gv.at.

You will also have to prevent one of the following to enter Austria:

• an evidence of vaccination
• a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours
• an evidence of recovery from previous Covid infection

If none of these can be presented, a test has to be taken immediately, or at the latest within 24 hours after arrival.. 

Please check www.oesterreich.gv.at for more information about containment measures in Austria.

Wearing a mask is mandatory on all trains and public transport in the Netherlands (no alternatives such as scarves or buffs allowed). Please read all safety measures applicable in trains and stations in the Netherlands.

Travelling to the Netherlands

Since 24 June 2021, travelers from Belgium are no longer submitted to the obligation of showing a negative PCR test or to the obligation of a quarantine. Please check www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19 (in dutch) for more information about containment measures applicable in the Netherlands. 

Tickets for travel from Belgium to Maastricht or Roosendaal (and vice versa) until 31 January 2021 are fully refundable at their original point of sale until the mentioned travel date. Tickets for travelling after 31 January 2021 are subject to the usual refund conditions of the chosen fare.

Wearing a mask is obligatory on all ICE trains. In the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (including Aachen and Cologne), it has even been mandatory to wear an FFP2 mask on public transport since Saturday 24/04/21. Any other type of mask or form of mouth and nose covering is no longer allowed in transports of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Please read the safety measures applicable in the trains and stations of the Aachen region (German).

Notice for passengers travelling to Germany

There are currently specific obligatory measures for entering Germany. The German health ministry requires that anyone traveling directly from an area defined as at risk by the Robert Koch Institute should leave their contact and travel details. This can be done through this online form.

Tickets for travel with regional trains between Belgium and Aachen until 31 January 2021 are fully refundable at their original point of sale until the mentioned travel date. Tickets for travelling after 31 January 2021 are subject to the usual refund conditions of the chosen fare.