Book your TGV Brussels-France train ticketsTGV Brussels-France

For most high-speed trains (notably Eurostar, TGV INOUI, TGV Lyria and ICE), the cheapest fares are available in limited quantities. So to benefit from the best prices, we suggest you avoid peak times and book your journey as far ahead as possible.

In some circumstances, it can be more cost-effective to travel as a group, as some rail companies offer fares which are exclusively available to small groups of 3-5 passengers, like the "Pack Tribu" fare on TGV INOUI or TGV Lyria's "Hi Five" offer, for example.

Finally, many railway operators regularly run temporary offers on fares, offering passengers good deals on rail travel. To ensure you don't miss out on these offers, we recommend you visit our website or Facebook page regularly, or sign up for our newsletter.

The booking period differs from one type of train to another. The main international trains at a glance:

• EuroCity, Eurocity Direct and our regional cross-border trains: buying tickets without booking a seat, particularly to the Netherlands, Lille or Luxembourg, is possible 335 days (11 months) before travel.
• AVE, Euromed, Alvia and other long distance trains in Spain operated by Renfe: booking possible 302 days (almost 10 months) in advance.
• Eurostar: booking possible on average from 210 days before travel, i.e. about 7 months in advance (minimum 157 and maximum 277 days in advance, depending on the period of the year).
• TGV Lyria: booking usually possible 8 months before travel.
• ICE and other Deutsche Bahn trains: booking usually possible 180 days (almost 6 months) before travel.
• Nightjet: booking theoretically possible from 180 days in advance. However, due to frequent works on the German rail network, adjusted timetables for Nightjet trains are often announced late, which unfortunately results in late opening of reservations.
• TGV INOUI and Trenitalia trains: booking usually possible 4 months before travel.
• Avant and Spanish Regional Express trains operated by Renfe: booking possible 62 days (2 months) in advance.

Exceptions:

• Eurostar Snow to the French Alps, booking possible from the end of the summer for the whole ski season (date to be specified each year).
• TGV early bird sale for travel in winter periods (Christmas and ski season) and summer periods (July and August). For these periods, the date of the early bird sale is to be specified each year.
• Every year in mid-December, different European rail companies simultaneously amend their train services, with new timetables taking effect more or less throughout Europe. On certain rail networks (particularly in Germany), the new timetables for mid-December are only confirmed and published at some point during October. When this occurs, bookings for rail travel from mid-December onwards can also only be made after a given date in October.
• In special circumstances (e.g. in case of engineering works), carriers may be forced to adapt their transport plan more frequently. For this reason, booking periods may momentarily differ from the above rules.

All luggage is under the passenger's responsibility and must be labelled with the owner's name and telephone number;

You must be able to carry your baggage yourself, and all at once (except for PRMs with assistance). After the platform access gates, only ticket holders are allowed on the platform.

On board the train, no luggage or personal belongings may obstruct the corridors or doors. Small items of luggage can be stored in the luggage racks above your seat. For larger items of luggage, there are spaces at the ends and in the middle of each carriage.

Each passenger can take up to:

• 2 items of luggage (suitcase, travel bag, sports bag, large rucksack, etc.) no larger than 70 x 90 x 50 cm, and
• 1 item of hand luggage (small rucksack, shopping bag, computer bag) no larger than 40 x 30 x 15 cm.

If you need to transport an object with special dimensions, you can take up to:

• 1 item of luggage (suitcase, travel bag, sports bag, large rucksack, etc.) no larger than 70 x 90 x 50 cm;
• 1 item of labelled special baggage, such as a pushchair, scooter (folded), musical instrument in a case, pair of skis (in a cover), waterboard or snowboard (in a cover) no larger than 90 x 130 cm;
• 1 item of hand luggage (small rucksack, shopping bag, computer bag) no larger than 40 x 30 x 15 cm.

Passengers with additional luggage will be required to pay a supplement of €50 per item of baggage to the TGV train manager.

For reasons of safety, children under 12 years of age are not allowed to travel alone on Eurostar or TGV Brussels-France trains.

Most other rail companies do not apply any specific restrictions in this area. This means that children may travel alone on other trains providing this is authorised by law in the country concerned. In Belgium, for example, children can travel by themselves from 6 years old.

Therefore, you should find out what the law says in each country concerned.

In all circumstances, we recommend that children travelling without their parents carry a document from their local authority stating parental authorisation to travel.

Do you have a connecting train in Belgium before or after your international journey with Eurostar, TGV INOUI, ICE, Nightjet, European Sleeper or OUIGO? If so, you will need a specific ticket for this connection.

We advise you to buy our Connection ticket in addition to your international ticket, which will enable you to take any train on the national SNCB network on the specified date between the Belgian station of your choice and the Belgian departure or arrival station of your international high speed train (Brussels-Midi, Antwerp-Central, Liège-Guillemins or Mons). However, you will need to specify your departure or arrival station in Belgium when you buy your 'Connection' ticket.

Since 15/12/2024, the price of a Connection ticket is no longer a flat rate, but a variable price based on distance, your comfort class and level of flexibility. When you book your international trip, the fare you choose for your international ticket will determine the flexibility level of your Connection ticket (in other words, the flexibility level of your Connection ticket automatically matches that of your international ticket).

The Connection ticket is free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult (max. 4 free children per adult). There is a reduced child fare for unaccompanied children under 12.

Two flexibility levels:

• Connection Flex: refundable at no charge up to the validity date if the Connection ticket is completely unused.
• Connection Mid Flex: refundable before the validity date with a €5 fee per ticket if the Connection ticket is completely unused.
  If you have Train+, you enjoy 40% off on your Connection Mid Flex ticket when departing on weekends, public holidays and during off-peak times.

Why buy a Connection ticket rather than a ticket from SNCB's domestic offer?

• You book your international journey and your connecting journey in Belgium in one single transaction.
• You can buy it several months in advance.
• The Connection ticket is fully or partially refundable in the event of cancellation.
• If you are travelling from Belgium to another country, your Connection ticket is valid from the day before the indicated date of trave. You can therefore make your connecting journey in Belgium from the day before your international journey (the date of travel indicated on your Connection ticket is the departure date of your international journey). If you are travelling from another country to Belgium, you can travel the last miles until the day after your arrival in Belgium.

To buy your Connection ticket online, simply select your actual station of departure or arrival (e.g. Bruges, Namur or Antwerp instead of Brussels-Midi) when you book your international journey.

Please note: the 'Connection' ticket must be booked together with your international tickets within the same booking file.

Online booking >

For commuters travelling daily between Brussels and Lille, there is a season ticket valid on all TGV INOUI and Eurostar trains operating on this short route.

This season ticket is made up of three items:

1. A "mother" card

The mother card costs € 6 and is valid for five years on the Brussels-Lille route (in 1st or 2nd class), as well as on any connecting train taken within metropolitan Brussels.

2. A monthly validation ticket

The mother card is only valid when accompanied by a monthly validation ticket. This validation card is valid for a period of one month, starting from your chosen date. It can be purchased maximum 31 days before the validity period begins.

• Cost of a 2nd class validation ticket: € 285/month
• Cost of a 1st class validation ticket: € 421/month

3. A seat reservation for every journey

In addition to your season ticket, you must book every journey. The cost of this is €3 per journey. 

The three items of this season ticket are sold exclusively at SNCB International ticket offices at Brussels (Midi/Zuid) station.