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, 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:

• 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).
• 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, TGV Lyria, Nightjet and Trenitalia trains: booking usually possible 4 months before travel.
• "Conventional" international trains (InterCity or regional trains): buying tickets without booking a seat, particularly to the Netherlands, Lille or Luxembourg, is possible 335 days (11 months) before travel. Unlike the other trains mentioned, there are no restrictions on the various fares on these "conventional" trains, so these are available up to the last minute (except for the Early Bird fare, that offers 25% to 40% discount ont the Intercity Netherlands, which must be purchased at least 7 days prior to travel).

Exceptions:

• Eurostar seasonal services: for Eurostar Snow to the French Alps, booking possible from the end of the summer for the whole ski season. For Eurostar Sun to the south of France, booking possible from the end of the winter for the whole summer 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.

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 another connection in Belgium before or after your international journey with Eurostar, TGV INOUI or Nightjet? 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 or Liège-Guillemins). However, you will need to specify your departure or arrival station in Belgium when you buy your 'Connection' ticket.

The price of the Connection ticket will depend on your travel class and on the flexibility level of your international ticket.

Price of the Connection ticket per single leg:

• Low Flex : €9,10 (2nd class) or €14,10 (1st class) - no refund possible
• Mid Flex : €11,40 (2nd class) or €17,60 (1st class) - unused tickets are 50% refundable up to the travel date.
• High Flex : €13,70 (2nd class) or €21,10 (1st class) - full refund for unused tickets until 1 day after the scheduled travel date. 

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.

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.

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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: € 272/month
• Cost of a 1st class validation ticket: € 401/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.