The opening up of the French rail market to competition has somewhat shaken up SNCF‘s new projects. The reinstatement of former regional rail lines (such as the Lyon-Bordeaux line) by outside companies has prompted the French firm to consider the rehabilitation of a low-speed, low-cost Paris-Brussels connection.
We’ve been there, done that, and ended up bankrupt at the end of the month because our Paris-Brussels Thalys cost us 190 euros. At a time when other rail companies are beginning to make inroads into the French market to rehabilitate regional connections, SNCF and SNCB have launched a Paris-Brussels route via Picardy, on board trains with conventional, reduced speed (so forget the speed of the TGV).
Five round trips a day from December onwards
This Paris-Brussels connection is not new: from the 1950s to the 1990s, trains were already running via Picardy, known as the TEE (Trans-Europ-Express). These new trains, according to Le Soir, used Belgian equipment. They will potentially run three round trips a day, serving the stations of Paris-Nord, Creil, Aulnoye-Aimeries, Mons, Bruxelles-Midi, Bruxelles-Central, Bruxelles-Nord and Schaerbeek.
Paris-Brussels: up to 3h10 travel time at reduced prices
From Paris, trains will depart at 8.18am, 12.28pm and 6.38pm. From Brussels-Midi, trains will depart at 7.38am, 1.38pm and 1.38am. The journey between the two capitals will take between 2h52 and 3h10, a much slower alternative to the Thalys (1h21) but less expensive: prices ranging from €10 to €59!
Enough to call it “low cost”? Considering Thalys prices, yes, it is!
Read also:
This summer, treat yourself to an incredible Paris-Deauville journey on a vintage locomotive!
Orient-Express: the luxury train will soon be back for journeys to Europe from Paris!