Brussels Tunnel closed Mayday wekend

[OwlMan]

From http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/News/1.2951155

One of the lynchpins of Belgium’s railway network will be closed to the long May Day weekend. The rail tunnel between Brussels North and Brussels South stations forms the hub of much of the country’s rail services with hundreds of trains linking major cities, local trains and some international services passing through it every day. However, like elsewhere on the rail network maintenance is sometime required. The rail infrastructure company Infrabel will carry out the work around the clock during the three-day long weekend from 29 April until 1 May. It will be the first time since 1985 that the North-South rail will be completely out of action.
No trains at all will stop at Brussels-Central Station. The rail operator NMBS has taken 5 measure to ease disruption to passengers. Services from Eupen (Liège province) to Ostend (West Flanders will be diverted via Schaarbeek and Denderleeuw.
The inter-city trains on one of the other main East-West route (from Landen in Flemish-Brabant to De Panne in West Flanders) will use the western orbital railway via West Station and the express line to Ghent (East Flanders) which means that they won’t stop in Aalst (East Flanders).
Other trains such as the Antwerp to Charleroi service will be split in two with termini in Brussels North and Brussels respectively. The two station will be linked via the western orbital railway with trains running three time per hour.
Passengers with will also be allowed to use the Brussel public transport company MIVB’s services to either reach the city centre or to get between Brussels North and Brussels South (or vice versa) free of charge. MIVB will run extra trams on lines 3 and 4 that link the two station for the duration of the work.

 

[MarcVD]

Its more than just maintenance... The existing all relay signal box gets replaced by a new one, computer-based. This stage is for the north part of South station only. The rest will follow later. North station is already fully under computer control.

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[duesselmartin]

What alternatives are there from Nord to Midi?

 

[MarcVD]

Tram 3 & 4 ; train between Nord and Midi via line 28 every 20 minutes. Brussels Central not served. Free transit on STIB network for all SNCB ticket holders.

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[MadCommuter]

Would this closure affect services between Brussels and Remagen? My relatives are on a rail tour from London and its a bus Brussels - Remagen.

 

[duesselmartin]

Eurostar serves Midi as usual. I believe the bus station is near the Nord station, so she will need a STIB tram/bus service.
I will also be travelling Düsseldorf - Brussels - London on that weekend and have to bridge the gap. Which leads to the following question: I booked as one journey Düsseldorf to St.P. Yet the print out for the ICE and Eurostar are to seperate sheets. Does that make it one or two journeys when it comes to passenger rights?
Martin

 

[30907]

Eurostar serves Midi as usual. I believe the bus station is near the Nord station, so she will need a STIB tram/bus service.

But this is a tour bus (not a service bus) so presumably can pick up at Midi.

 

[Groningen]

The german travelplanner gives 3 trains an hour from Noord/Nord to Zuid/Midi at 11, 32 and 50 on April 30, 2017 also in the rushhour (oh; it is Saturday and Sunday). But also Monday May 1, 2017. Return trains (going north) are at 16, 36 and 56. Traveltime is around 13 minutes.

The IC from Genk to Blankenberge calls at Schaarbeek and Denderleeuw and does not stop in Brussel. Traveltime 61 minutes; normally 4 minutes faster via Brussel. Same stops also applies for Eupen - Liege/Luik - Oostende with the stops in Schaarbeek and Denderleeuw. Fine to have a not so difficult detour possibility. But a connection from Antwerpen Centraal to Charleroi Sud takes about 35 minutes more with a change of trains in Noord and Midi.

Ach; the pain only lasts for 3 days and is in the weekend!

 

[MadCommuter]

Thanks for the replies.