Recent content by toerist

The left hand running tracks where owned by a different operator than the right hand running tracks, In Charleroi you had 2 operators at the time: NMVB/SNCV (Nationale Maatschappij Voor Buurtspoorwegen/Société Nationale de Chemins de fers Vicinaux) the country wide interurban tram network and...

If the Eurostar has an on-time arrival, 17 to 23 transfer times is sufficient, there are no exit-checks in Brussels and ICE trains usually leave from platforms 3 to 6, right next to eurostar (1 & 2)

I've heard in the hallways that for people having a FIP coupon seat reservation would be €4 in second class and €6 in First class

Between Brussels and Antwerp, it's dutch (dutch language area) the only place where you could have trouble in finding the person's language is Brussels (or the few other bilingual cities) otherwise every city is clearly located in a fixed language zone (please avoid using French in Flanders...

Actually 60% of the population is native Dutch speaking (the Northern part of the country = Flanders), than we have a part in the East that speaks German while only in the south we have some french speaking people (but they are only a minority really)

If you are still scared of getting lost in Brussels South, here's the map:

Belgian rail staff, serving in costumer contact jobs, are required to know both Dutch and French (admitted that the Dutch of some French speaking colleagues isn't perfect) There's is no obligation to speak German or English though

The use of languages in Belgium is written in the law, we are officially only allowed to use English when a person speaks English to us or if we make an announcement in the 3 official languages (first your mother tongue (Dutch for me), than the second language (French) and German) before we can...

The refurbished AM86 units, because of their yellow fronts they are nicknamed "rubber duckies" amongst rail staff --- old post above --- --- new post below --- of course, you can check here: http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/B/SNCB_AM62.php and...

Another option is travelling Eurostar to Brussels, and catch the classic International Service to Switzerland there, comfortable Swiss coaches, and free with FIP tickets and no reservations necessary

Even we staff working for the Belgian and Dutch railways don't know whether FIP tickets will be allowed on FYRA or not buy the best advice is, go to the train manager of a FYRA train you want to take and ask if you can hop on, I'm sure that most of them will be happy to have a colleague...

If you go to Belgium, don't forget to visit Antwerp, it's by far our most spectacular railway station, Trains stopping at 3 different levels, which can all be seen from 1 point if you pick the right location if you want more information regarding train compositions you can always check...

From Brussels to Luxembourg loco-hauled trains: IC 2107 http://www.beluxtrains.net/indexnl.php?page=belgium-files/2012_1/2012-2107 IC 2108 http://www.beluxtrains.net/indexnl.php?page=belgium-files/2012_1/2012-2108 IC 2115...

the main connections should be: IC-A Ostend - Eupen = HLE13 (or HLE 18) + 12 HV I11 (sometimes mixed with I6 or I10) IC-B+ Brussels - Amsterdam = HLE 28 + 7 HV NS (and 1 train with Oebb coaches) IC-C Ostend - Kortrijk = some services with HLE 21 + HV M4m IC-E Tongeren - Knokke/Blankenberge =...

the mainlines are all operated by NS, yet some local lines are operated by private companies when the local government grants them the contract (much like in Germany)