Citybreak1
Member
Im wanting visiting Ghent from Lille Google says 2 changes but website says direct. I assume it goes direct and also if I select a train time at the machine can I return on any service like in Scotland?
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Bahn.de says that there are direct trains from Lille Flandres to Gent St Pieters. Lille Flandres is a 600m walk from Lilles Europe.Im wanting visiting Ghent from Lille Google says 2 changes but website says direct. I assume it goes direct and also if I select a train time at the machine can I return on any service like in Scotland?
Seat 61 says
You don't need a reservation for Lille-Belgium regional trains so can easily buy the Lille-Belgium ticket at the station in Lille when you get there.
Sir Felix Pole
Established Member
Note that on the return the train divides at Kortrijk - ensure that you are in the right portion for Lille. Gent St. Pieters is a bit of a step from the city-centre, so take the tram.
I doubt the regional ticket machine will show any timetable. The Grandes Lignes ticket machines can't sell these tickets anymore.Im wanting visiting Ghent from Lille Google says 2 changes but website says direct. I assume it goes direct and also if I select a train time at the machine can I return on any service like in Scotland?
In addition, I don't know whether the regional ticket machines sell anything else than the full fare. Depending on age (under 26, over 65) and day of the week (weekend), there are also other fares available. Check fares on http://b-europe.com
If using the app to buy tickets you need to use the "SNCB International" one, not the "SNCB/NMBS" one. However if you then make a trip which is entirely in Belgium you need to use the latter. The online journey planners seem to get really confused with that trip!
The train from Lille Flandres is to Antwerpen-Centraal via Kortrijk & Gent-Sint-Pieters (note, in Lille the departure boards & on board screens use the French names which caught me out when looking for Kortrijk or Antwerpen, they change to Dutch as you approach Kortrijk)
Note also in Ghent there is a lot of construction work happening at/near the station so only the (marginally) less direct tram to the city centre is running - all the tourist info maps had stickers on saying not to use them for tram journeys as there been a lot of recent changes, so don't rely on old maps/guidebooks for that)
The train from Lille Flandres is to Antwerpen-Centraal via Kortrijk & Gent-Sint-Pieters (note, in Lille the departure boards & on board screens use the French names which caught me out when looking for Kortrijk or Antwerpen, they change to Dutch as you approach Kortrijk)
Note also in Ghent there is a lot of construction work happening at/near the station so only the (marginally) less direct tram to the city centre is running - all the tourist info maps had stickers on saying not to use them for tram journeys as there been a lot of recent changes, so don't rely on old maps/guidebooks for that)
That's the B-Europe website I mentioned.If using the app to buy tickets you need to use the "SNCB International" one [...]
The trains from Lille Flandres to Gent run through to Gent Dampoort after Gent Sint Pieters. Dampoort is closer to the centre and in easier walking distance than Sint Pieters so, depending on which part of the city you are going to, you might be better getting off there.
Amalie
Member
Hi I took this train last year in November. Barring any changes that have happened since, it is indeed a direct train from Antwerp(en) Centraal to Lille Flanders.
It splits in Kortrijk into two, and the section that goes further into Lille is on travel planners for some reason considered to be a completely different train.
On some days it will require a stopover, but as long as the stopover time seems to be relatively short and the “connection” is labeled as being on the same platform, it’ll be a direct service.
Of course you should ensure that you’re sitting in the correct section in the first place, namely the ones with carriages labeled as “Lille”, or if it shows the Dutch name for some strange reason, look for “Rijsel”. I’m pretty sure they also warned about that on the in-board announcements, although I can’t recall whether any of them were in English.
It splits in Kortrijk into two, and the section that goes further into Lille is on travel planners for some reason considered to be a completely different train.
On some days it will require a stopover, but as long as the stopover time seems to be relatively short and the “connection” is labeled as being on the same platform, it’ll be a direct service.
Of course you should ensure that you’re sitting in the correct section in the first place, namely the ones with carriages labeled as “Lille”, or if it shows the Dutch name for some strange reason, look for “Rijsel”. I’m pretty sure they also warned about that on the in-board announcements, although I can’t recall whether any of them were in English.
Citybreak1
Member
I couldn’t find the train so took a more costly option TGV to Brussels then train to Ghent. Station renovations set me back went wrong way and going back couldn’t find many trams close to station had to walk a bit further. I may go to Bruges next time but it’s a bit of a walk. Couldn’t see any trams or many buses to centre on last visit.
How do you mean you couldn't find the train? It runs almost every hour.I couldn’t find the train so took a more costly option TGV to Brussels then train to Ghent. Station renovations set me back went wrong way and going back couldn’t find many trams close to station had to walk a bit further. I may go to Bruges next time but it’s a bit of a walk. Couldn’t see any trams or many buses to centre on last visit.
Edit: I checked today's morning trains and it looks like the 11:09 was cancelled. Maybe you wanted to take that one?
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I wonder if they never went to Lille-Flandres and simply went to Lille-Europe instead?How do you man you couldn't find the train? It runs almost every hour.
How do you mean you couldn't find the train? It runs almost every hour.
Edit: I checked today's morning trains and it looks like the 11:09 was cancelled. Maybe you wanted to take that one?
As it happens I'll be doing Lille - Ghent in September. Looks like there are holes in the timetable and trains in the mid morning period are bustituted.
That has been happening for years now during some periods of the year. I wonder if SNCF will ever be ready.As it happens I'll be doing Lille - Ghent in September. Looks like there are holes in the timetable and trains in the mid morning period are bustituted.
That has been happening for years now during some periods of the year. I wonder if SNCF will ever be ready.
Is this SNCF not having enough staff certified to work Belgian trains in Belgian?
I'm toying with using local transport (quite keen to sample the Lille network), but cross-border buses between Tourcoing and Kortrijk seem almost non-existent.
The trains Lille-Gent-Antwerp don't have SNCF staff.Is this SNCF not having enough staff certified to work Belgian trains in Belgian?
There should be buses to Mouscron. I checked a few random September dates but found no bustitution. What's your travel date?I'm toying with using local transport (quite keen to sample the Lille network), but cross-border buses between Tourcoing and Kortrijk seem almost non-existent.
The trains Lille-Gent-Antwerp don't have SNCF staff.
There should be buses to Mouscron. I checked a few random September dates but found no bustitution. What's your travel date?
11th September - nothing between the 0909 and 1409 according to DB. Chances are I'll be festering in Lille anyway so no biggie.
Sir Felix Pole
Established Member
No trams in Bruges, but there are buses Nos 1/2 from right outside the station to the centre. It is a pleasant enough walk anyway.I may go to Bruges next time but it’s a bit of a walk. Couldn’t see any trams or many buses to centre on last visit.
If direct trains to Kortrijk don't run, there are also hourly trains to Tournai that you can catch. From Tournai , easy connections to Kortrijk or Bruxelles .11th September - nothing between the 0909 and 1409 according to DB. Chances are I'll be festering in Lille anyway so no biggie.
The SNCB App is showing a bus between Lille Flanders & Moeskroen on that date between those times.11th September - nothing between the 0909 and 1409 according to DB. Chances are I'll be festering in Lille anyway so no biggie.
I've remembered there were lots of signs warning about engineering works between Kortrijk and Lille whole I was there, but looks like those should have finished by then?
Citybreak1
Member
Thanks no we went to the right station and yes it was around 10-11am so possibly cancelled. The train from Brussels was very busy I’m guessing due to tourist season.How do you mean you couldn't find the train? It runs almost every hour.
Edit: I checked today's morning trains and it looks like the 11:09 was cancelled. Maybe you wanted to take that one?
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