Eurostar Any Belgian Station

[ThameslinkUser]

Eurostar has quietly snuck into their FAQs:

We will stop selling our Any Belgian Station tickets on 31st March 2025 and the last travel date for these tickets is 14th June 2025. For travel transfer to and from other stations in Belgium, additional tickets will need to be bought from the local rail operator.

This, of course, follows the removal of the free Brussels transfers late last year.

 

[williamn]

Yet another reason why we need competition...

 

[rvdborgt]

Yet another reason why we need competition...

If NMBS don't offer it anymore (which I believe is the case), then a competitor won't be able to offer it either.

 

[williamn]

If NMBS don't offer it anymore (which I believe is the case), then a competitor won't be able to offer it either.

Fair. Just seems like a continual downgrade of Eurostar's services at the moment.

 

[Trainbike46]

The similar "any Dutch station" tickets that used to be available don't appear to be available any longer either - or at least, they have been hidden sufficiently well that I can't figure out how to book them at present.

 

[rvdborgt]

The similar "any Dutch station" tickets that used to be available don't appear to be available any longer either - or at least, they have been hidden sufficiently well that I can't figure out how to book them at present.

NS still offer them but when was the most recent time Eurostar offered them? Wasn't that before they changed their booking system in 2020?

 

[Trainbike46]

NS still offer them but when was the most recent time Eurostar offered them? Wasn't that before they changed their booking system in 2020?

I have booked one (over the phone) from Eurostar in 2023 - but that was a very late notice ticket change due to unexpected medical conditions, so I wouldn't know whether that is usually available, they were very helpful over the the phone

 

[Thames99]

It's less convenient, but for many journeys £10 extra each way is more than the SNCB fare. A single to Antwerp for example is 8.90 Euros.

 

[James H]

Yes likewise for my semi-regular journey to visit family in Belgium, it was cheaper to buy separate tickets.

And to be fair the SNCB app is pretty good for ticket buying and works in English. It's a different world from 20 years ago when the through ticket option saved you from queuing up at a booking window and asking for a ticket in a foreign language.

 

[Capybara]

It's less convenient, but for many journeys £10 extra each way is more than the SNCB fare. A single to Antwerp for example is 8.90 Euros.

Is it still £10? Looked more like £13 when I checked recently. Anyway, I agree with the general point.

 

[rvdborgt]

Is it still £10? Looked more like £13 when I checked recently. Anyway, I agree with the general point.

AFAIK, the history of the "Any Belgian station" add-on is:

1. Originally, it was a free add-on. Eurostar tickets were just valid to any Belgian station.
2. Later, I believe at least 15 years ago, it was converted to a real add-on that cost money, around €6.xx for a single 2nd class.
3. A few years ago, NMBS changed this to 3 prices, depending on the fare level you paid for your Eurostar. The cheapest slightly cheaper than the previous "Any Belgian station", the other 2 more expensive and a lot more expensive.

 

[duesselmartin]

I remember on Thaly it was just a token sum.
The occasional traveller will not have registered with SNCB App. Of course he/she could but it is an added inconvinience.

 

[Capybara]

On a slight tangent, what are the rules on using over-65 tickets? I'm an over-65 UK national. Do I just buy an over-65 ticket and show my passport if my ticket is checked?

 

[rvdborgt]

On a slight tangent, what are the rules on using over-65 tickets? I'm an over-65 UK national. Do I just buy an over-65 ticket and show my passport if my ticket is checked?

That's how it works indeed. Conditions here:

https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/tickets-and-railcards/senior-ticket

 

[Birkonian]

That's how it works indeed. Conditions here:

https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/tickets-and-railcards/senior-ticket

I travel in Belgium frequently. I've never been asked to prove that I'm over 65. No, I don't think it's obvious!

 

[TFN]

Are Eurostar tickets to Belgium still valid on NMBS trains to Brussels Centraal or Nord and quite a few other stations in the Brussels area?

I can’t find the list anywhere.

 

[dutchflyer]

NO-as was clearly stated in the very 1st post in this thread. Ceased late last yr. Also posted on seat61. However-maybe explaining the confusion- domestic NMBS/SNCB tix to BRU as ´any station in urban zone´-as is also the case for all other larger cities with more as 1 station.
As for senior/65+: up till now its a return, from 9.00 mo-fr, at a flat price. The normal BE rise in fares (linked to the statistic figure for inflation-as are also salaries and many other govmtal things in BE) is on 1/2 coming and I´ve read somewhere, but not seen confirmed, that the senior discount will from then on be 40% OFF from full fare=making it more usefull for short trips and singles, but rising the price for longer distance-still a very good offer in all. In fact for those that lucky in age-it was always cheaper as the €* add-on. NMBS is clearly busy in checking all their very cheap special offers and ceasing or adjusting them to find some more revenue from customers paying. Trains there-as in NL, remain just as in UK Southern or other suburbans: just walk on, no need for advance or fone-fiddling etc.-but stand up in very busy times.
Its off-topic, but for those interested in other transports: the Wallon (FR speaking area) bus-comp TEC (has also trams in the Charleroi area and coming back in Liége-town) offers for seniors a yearly pass for less as 20€-for anyone. But also have to pay for the MoBiB chipcard 1st time-bring foto to have them make it up (cost 5€, I think). About cost of 2 daypasses on them.
In Flanders there is deLIJN-has kind of same but at much higher price.

 

[rvdborgt]

As for senior/65+: up till now its a return, from 9.00 mo-fr, at a flat price. The normal BE rise in fares (linked to the statistic figure for inflation-as are also salaries and many other govmtal things in BE) is on 1/2 coming and I´ve read somewhere, but not seen confirmed, that the senior discount will from then on be 40% OFF from full fare=making it more usefull for short trips and singles, but rising the price for longer distance

Something like this will probably happen in future but NOT on 1/2. There are still a number of elements in this fare structure change that have not been defined and for which the mandatary consultation process still has to start (there's more than just changes to the senior ticket). On 1/2 there will just be the annual price increase.

 

[yorksrob]

I remember the "any Dutch station" version, which was indeed very good value.

Shame that anything good value seems to get the chop.

 

[A S Leib]

Shame that anything good value seems to get the chop.

Same goes for the London Spezial tickets for Germany – London (replaced by De Connect), which I think worked out cheaper than Brussels – London by itself at times.

 

[rvdborgt]

I remember the "any Dutch station" version, which was indeed very good value.

Shame that anything good value seems to get the chop.

"Any Dutch station" has not been axed. It's rather not offered yet on the Eurostar website. It's an offer of NS.
The offer did change after the direct Eurostar trains to the Netherlands were introduced: previously, there was an add-on from any Dutch station to Brussels; now there's an add-on from any Dutch station to Amsterdam, Schiphol (continental routes) or Rotterdam, which NS offer when it's cheaper than the regular fare (*), so it's basically a fare cap. The actual station is mentioned on the ticket, it doesn't say "Any Dutch station".

(*) I'm not sure how Eurostar will implement that.

 

[yorksrob]

"Any Dutch station" has not been axed. It's rather not offered yet on the Eurostar website. It's an offer of NS.

Does it still include Eurostar from London ?

 

[rvdborgt]

Does it still include Eurostar from London ?

I was adding some info to my post while you already replied...
Please see my explanations in #21.

 

[yorksrob]

I was adding some info to my post while you already replied...
Please see my explanations in #21.

Ah thanks. If its still the equivalent of fifty quid each way (plus ten or so years of inflation) then that's good.

 

[johncrossley]

Are Eurostar tickets to Belgium still valid on NMBS trains to Brussels Centraal or Nord and quite a few other stations in the Brussels area?

I can’t find the list anywhere.

That stopped on 14 December. At least it only costs EUR 2.20 to use contactless on STIB/MIVB services for one hour.

 

[rvdborgt]

Ah thanks. If its still the equivalent of fifty quid each way (plus ten or so years of inflation) then that's good.

A single to Amsterdam should be available from €55, return from €88, according to NS. The connection fare ("Any Dutch station") is €9 for a single.

 

[Birkonian]

Does it still include Eurostar from London ?

There are never ticket checks between Midi and Centraal. It is only about a 4 minutes journey and no barriers.

 

[Capybara]

I travel in Belgium frequently. I've never been asked to prove that I'm over 65. No, I don't think it's obvious!

Thanks. It wasn't clear from the link if there were other restrictions, such as Belgian nationals only, or you need something extra (like a senior railcard in the UK, for example).

 

[Birkonian]

Thanks. It wasn't clear from the link if there were other restrictions, such as Belgian nationals only, or you need something extra (like a senior railcard in the UK, for example).

No, just proof of age if asked (not likely).

 

[rvdborgt]

Thanks. It wasn't clear from the link if there were other restrictions, such as Belgian nationals only, or you need something extra (like a senior railcard in the UK, for example).

Belgian nationals only would be an illegal restriction.