Charleroi to Brussels via Train.

[reb0118]

I'm off to Belgium for the weekend. We have flights to/from Charleroi. There are four of us travelling - three with FIP coupons & one adult fare (65+).

Any tips for cheap fares?

We will be making one return trip from airport to Charleroi Sud, then to Brussels Central, & then the metro to St. Catherines (out Friday back Monday).

Also one day return from St Catherines (Metro) via Brussels South to Brugge on the Sunday.

We will also require at least a return trip on the Brussels metro on the Saturday.

I suspect that the best ticket for the +65 adult will be the +65 pensioner fare at 6.20€ single or day return.

I note that the ticket is from "Zone" Charleroi to "Zone" Brussels. Does this give additional public transport in the Zones? If so does it include the local TER airport bus and/or the Brussels Metro?....

TIA.

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[radamfi]

Zone on Belgian train tickets mean you can go to several stations in the same town, but only by train, not local public transport, similar to the "stations" suffix in Britain. The list of stations in each zone are explained on the website, in Dutch:

http://www.belgianrail.be/nl/klantendienst/faq/terminologie.aspx

Zone
Stations die tot de zone behoren
Aalst
Aalst, Aalst-Kerrebroek, Erembodegem
Antwerpen
Antwerpen-Berchem, Antwerpen-Centraal, Antwerpen-Dam, Antwerpen-Luchtbal, Antwerpen-Noorderdokken, Antwerpen-Oost, Antwerpen-Zuid
Bergen
Bergen, Nimy
Brugge
Brugge, Brugge-Sint-Pieters
Brussel
Arcaden, Bockstaal, Boondaal, Bordet, Bosvoorde, Brussel-Centraal, Brussel-Congres, Brussel-Kapellekerk, Brussel-Luxemburg, Brussel-Noord, Brussel-Schuman, Brussel-West, Brussel-Zuid, Delta, Diesdelle, Etterbeek, Evere, Haren, Haren-Zuid, Jette, Meiser, Merode, Moensberg, Mouterij, Schaarbeek, Simonis, Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Sint-Job, Thurn & Taxis, Ukkel-Kalevoet, Ukkel-Stalle, Vorst-Oost, Vorst-Zuid, Watermaal
Charleroi
Charleroi-West, Charleroi-Zuid, Couillet, Lodelinsart, Marchienne-au-Pont, Marchienne-Zone
Denderleeuw
Denderleeuw, Iddergem, Welle
Dendermonde
Dendermonde, Sint-Gillis
Gent
Drongen, Gentbrugge, Gent-Dampoort, Gent-Sint-Pieters, Wondelgem
Halle
Buizingen, Halle, Lembeek
Hasselt
Hasselt, Kiewit
Hoei
Hoei, Statte
Knokke
Duinbergen, Heist, Knokke
La Louvière
Bracquegnies, La Louvière-Centrum, La Louvière-Zuid
Leuven
Heverlee, Leuven
Luik
Angleur, Bressoux, Chênée, Luik-Guillemins, Luik-Jonfosse, Luik-Paleis, Sclessin
March
Aye, Marche-en-Famenne, Marloie
Mechelen
Mechelen, Mechelen-Nekkerspoel
Moeskroen
Herseaux, Moeskroen
Namen
Flawinne, Jambes, Jambes-Est, Namen, Ronet
Verviers
Verviers-Centraal, Verviers-Palais

and in French:

Zone
Gares dans cette zone
Alost
Alost, Alost-Kerrebroek, Erembodegem
Anvers
Anvers-Berchem, Anvers-Central, Anvers-Dam, Anvers-Luchtbal, Anvers-Noorderdokken, Anvers-Est, Anvers-Sud
Bruges
Bruges, Bruges-Saint-Pierre
Bruxelles
Arcades, Berchem-Ste-Agathe, Bockstael, Boitsfort, Boondael, Bordet, Bruxelles-Central, Bruxelles-Chapelle, Bruxelles-Congrès, Bruxelles-Luxembourg, Bruxelles-Midi, Bruxelles-Nord, Bruxelles-Ouest, Bruxelles-Schuman, Delta, Etterbeek, Evere, Forest-Est, Forest-Midi, Germoir, Haren, Haren-Sud, Jette, Meiser, Mérode, Moensberg, Saint-Job, Schaerbeek, Simonis, Tour et Taxis, Uccle-Calevoet, Uccle-Stalle, Vivier d'oie, Watermael
Charleroi
Charleroi-Ouest, Charleroi-Sud, Couillet, Lodelinsart, Marchienne-au-Pont, Marchienne-Zone
Denderleeuw
Denderleeuw, Iddergem, Welle
Termonde
Termonde, Sint-Gillis
Gand
Drongen, Gentbrugge, Gand-Dampoort, Gand-Saint-Pierre, Wondelgem
Hal
Buizingen, Hal, Lembeek
Hasselt
Hasselt, Kiewit
Huy
Huy, Statte
Knokke
Duinbergen, Heist, Knokke
La Louvière
Bracquegnies, La Louvière-Centre, La Louvière-Sud
Louvain
Heverlee, Louvain
Liège
Angleur, Bressoux, Chênée, Liège-Guillemins, Liège-Jonfosse, Liège-Palais, Sclessin
Malines
Malines, Malines-Nekkerspoel
Marche Aye, Marche-en-Famenne, Marloie
Mons
Mons, Nimy
Mouscron
Herseaux, Mouscron
Namur
Flawinne, Jambes, Jambes-Est, Namur, Ronet
Verviers
Verviers-Central, Verviers-Palais

 

[Quakkerillo]

1. The ticket Zone Charleroi to Zone Brussels only means "From any train station in Charleroi to any train station in Brussels". To travel between the airport and Charleroi Sud station, you need a separate ticket [[[incorrect prices hereafter]]](€2,40 from the driver, €1,90 if bought at the ticket machine at the airport bus stop).
2. At the same bus stop, you can also buy tickets for the under-65 from Charleroi Airport straight to Brussels Central station for €15,20 each. I have absolutely no idea how you could get a FIP discount at the train ticket machine that can be found at the bus stop, and if it even is available for this journey. You could try ask the @NMBS / @SNCB on twitter.
3. You'll make 6x4 journeys in Brussels by public transport; these are separate tickets, and the cheapest option would be to buy two 10-journey cards. These come on a smartcard, and you just beep in 4 times at the stop to let everybody in. The tickets cost €14 for 10 journeys, so €28 total. The last 4 journeys you can make on 4 singles (pre-buy for €2,10 each). If you might use the public transport a bit more, you could always buy three 10-journey tickets so you have a bit more flexibility.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I'm pretty sure the TEC airport express bus A is (or was) €5 each way.
The cheaper fare is for local stopping services I believe, which are indirect.

The SNCB web site says there is a Weekend ticket which gives 50% off between any two stations.
Valid from 1900 Friday and all day Sat/Sun.
If you qualify, Charleroi Sud-Brussels is €10.80 return.
Charleroi Sud-Brugge would be €23, but I don't know if you can split journeys in one direction over more than 1 day.
Brussels-Brugge is €15.60.
You can buy online in advance.
http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/tickets/weekend-ticket.aspx

 

[MarcVD]

And in case you would be tempted, the rolling stock used on Charleroi Brussels at night and in the week end is such that first class tickets are absolutely not worth it.

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[johnnychips]

I know you are not considering this, but the direct coach service from Charleroi Airport to Brussels can be a nightmare to get on if several planes arrive at once.

 

[Quakkerillo]

I never knew that ligne A (Aeroport-Charleroi) was different pricing, but I see that they charge a whopping €6 for a ticket on that service. It isn't an "express" service, and thus I thought it had normal pricing. You can always take Bus 28 to Jumet Madeleine and then the (pre)metro to Charleroi Sud and save €4,60 on the bus. But if that's worth it for you is your decision.

 

[reb0118]

Many thanks for your answers chaps. I should be able to work out what's best now. Thanks again.

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[reb0118]

Re. the airport we might just jump a taxi to the railway station as there are four of us. I would assume a fast joe would be in the region of 20 - 30€?.

Any merit in using Courcelles (Motte) station? Looks like the nearest mainline station to the airport. I realise a further change at Lutte is normally required.

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[dutchflyer]

Sorry-I'll have to disappoint you-there are NO normal buses/TEC at all IN the airport area and the airport area is, due to frequent theft, car break-ins etc., also NOT accessible by foot from nearby housing-its all fenced off. Unless this has changed the last 1,5 yr-last time i was there.
The ONLy bus to it are indeed the TEc to Ch-station, apparently now a whopping 6 eur or the Flibco Buses to Brussel/Lille/Luxembourg (from 5 eur/single if you book advance+have luck).
Google maps is pretty deceiving in how to reach this airport!
IF you would like the cheapest way, ask nicely to someone driving out if you can hitch to nearest busstop.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The cheap TEC bus is the 68 from Charleroi Sud to Gosselies Aeropole.
Frequency is only hourly and takes 30 minutes (Bus A is every 30m and takes 17m).
Stops in the airport environs, St Exupery looks the closest to the airport terminal.
However it looks a confusing area and it's not clear if there is a direct walking route to the terminal.
The web site tells you to use bus A if you want the airport itself.
https://www.infotec.be/fr-be/medeplacer/horaires/ligne.aspx?ligne=C68

 

[TheSeeker]

The airport also charges for the "Kiss & Ride" car drop off zone so you often see large numbers of people pulling their suitcases along the road as they have been left by car at the first roundabout and there are no pavements or pedestrian access as dutchflyer pointed out.

Apart from the huge crowds I find it a good airport, check in to gate is only a few minutes compared to lots of walking at Zaventem. Having said that the only flight to Porto which I want to take is at 3am so I usually fly from Zaventem to get one at 2pm.