Loco Hauled Services in Belgium

[Aictos]

I'm planning on spending a day trip in November one Saturday and am looking at having about 9 hours to use in Belgium - Are there any loco hauled passenger services in use or is it all EMUs/DMUs?

Is there any routes/services which come recommended?

 

[87015]

I'm planning on spending a day trip in November one Saturday and am looking at having about 9 hours to use in Belgium - Are there any loco hauled passenger services in use or is it all EMUs/DMUs?

Is there any routes/services which come recommended?

There are loads, although Saturdays are obviously not as good as weekdays but you still won't have to wait long at Brussels for a hauled train. A lot of routes have a mixture of EMU/Loco workings on Saturdays and all the 18s (new Siemens locos which don't work very well) might be in service by then on the Oostende-Eupens.
If you are going in November there is a Mercia Charters booked to run on the weekend if 12/13th I think it is, which is the only way you'll get SNCB diesels these days and might be worth a look.

Some photos linked in sig from last weekend.

Hope that helps.

 

[Aictos]

Thanks for that, are there any routes which you would recommend?

 

[LouJ]

Here are two galleries showing what can be seen at Brussels Midi. Loco hauled to Ostende, Eupen, some trains to Leige, some trains to Antwerp etc etc etc

On weekday rush hours loco hauled services must reach 60% of services out of Brussels. Absolutely superb!

Gallery 1 :- http://www.world-railways.co.uk/gallery/gallery.php?id=151

Gallery 2 :- http://www.world-railways.co.uk/gallery/gallery.php?id=157

 

[toerist]

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 = most services with HLE 27 + HV M6 + HLE 27 + HV M6 (the 2 sets of loc and coaches are split/coupled in Bruges using automaic GF couplers)

IC-F Quiévrain - Liége Guillemins = HLE 21 + HV M4m or HLE 27 + HV M6 (sometimes they get an extra push by an HLE 23 to help them climb the hill Liége - Ans)

IC-H Mouscron - Schaarbeek = HLE 21 + HV M4m

IC-I Antwerpen - Charleroi = HLE 27 + 8 HV M6

IC-K Gent SP - Genk = HLE 27 + 8 HV M6

IC-N Charleroi - Essen = HLE 27 + 8 HV M6

IC-O Brussel - Maastricht = HLE 13 + 8 or 12 HV I11

IR-f Kortrijk - Mechelen (- Leuven) = HLE 21 + 5 HV M4m

IR-J Quévy - Brussels Airport = 2 out of 4 trains HLE 27 + 8 M6

IR-l Binche - Louvain-la-neuve= HLE26 + 8HV M6 + HLE26

IR-m Liers - Luxembourg = CFL HLE3000 + 3 HV I10 or I6

IR-n Antwerpen - Brussels = peaktime trains with HLE 21 + 6 HV M5m

IR-s Antwerpen - Noorderkempen = 2HV M6 + HLE13 + 2HV M6

those are the main services operated by loco-hauled trains, do note that most peak-hour trains are also loco-hauled, often with old locomotives and exotic coach combinations and that on most IC and IR services the busiest trains are operated using M6 double-deck stock

for more information concerning train compostitions check: http://www.beluxtrains.net