Minimum connections in Brussels

[Krokodil]

Returning from Vienna on a Wednesday in February on NJ468, it arrives in Brussels at 09:55 and the next Eurostar leaves at 10:56. Is this technically a valid connection (such that I'd be covered in the event of late running)?

Booking the next Eurostar would mean a three hour wait in Brussels if the Nightjet runs to time.

 

[rvdborgt]

That's technically a valid connection, but I wouldn't count on it to work. It may work, but delays of an hour (or more) can and do occur.

 

[Krokodil]

That's technically a valid connection, but I wouldn't count on it to work. It may work, but delays of an hour (or more) can and do occur.

I've arrived on that NJ before and had booked the 12:56. Arrived on time, and three hours with luggage in Brussels Midi was not pleasant. As long as Eurostar can't turn around and say "that's not a legitimate connection, we're not rebooking you" I'm prepared to try it.

 

[hexagon789]

I thought the minimum connection time for long-distance/International trains was 20 mins?

Local Belgian trains being 10 mins.

I'll admit, I cannot find those figures online to back my recollection up, but they are in the back of my mind from something.

 

[Krokodil]

I thought the minimum connection time for long-distance/International trains was 20 mins?

There's Eurostar's security to take into account too. Gate closes 30 minutes before departure.

 

[rvdborgt]

I thought the minimum connection time for long-distance/International trains was 20 mins?

Local Belgian trains being 10 mins.

MCT in Brussels Zuid/Midi is 5 minutes, from/to international long-distance trains this was changed a few years ago to 15 minutes (IIRC). From/to Eurostar it's more of course, to take the 30 min. check-in time into account.

 

[hexagon789]

There's Eurostar's security to take into account too. Gate closes 30 minutes before departure.

MCT in Brussels Zuid/Midi is 5 minutes, from/to international long-distance trains this was changed a few years ago to 15 minutes (IIRC). From/to Eurostar it's more of course, to take the 30 min. check-in time into account.

Thank you both.

(And apologies if I've derailed the thread from the OP's original intention.)

 

[BazingaTribe]

There's Eurostar's security to take into account too. Gate closes 30 minutes before departure.

From recent experience it takes that 30 min to get through the security system. It's not a huge distance from any particular platform to the Channel terminal, but it's a real bottleneck. I had two hours between arrival and departure and I didn't have awfully long to wait beyond security and passport control, but the bigger deal was doubling back through the duty free shop to get from the waiting room to the platforms.

Of course this was a Saturday afternoon, so it might be easier at a non-peak time, but it was incredibly stressful despite the time I actually had.

 

[Fragezeichnen]

I've arrived on that NJ before and had booked the 12:56. Arrived on time, and three hours with luggage in Brussels Midi was not pleasant. As long as Eurostar can't turn around and say "that's not a legitimate connection, we're not rebooking you" I'm prepared to try it.

Are they obliged to accomodate a delayed NightJet at all, as I would assume it does not qualify as a RailTeam high speed service?

 

[Krokodil]

From recent experience it takes that 30 min to get through the security system. It's not a huge distance from any particular platform to the Channel terminal, but it's a real bottleneck. I had two hours between arrival and departure and I didn't have awfully long to wait beyond security and passport control, but the bigger deal was doubling back through the duty free shop to get from the waiting room to the platforms.

Of course this was a Saturday afternoon, so it might be easier at a non-peak time, but it was incredibly stressful despite the time I actually had.

I've encountered issues at Brussels too, but my experience then was that as long as you were in the queue by the 30 minute deadline you were safe.

Are they obliged to accomodate a delayed NightJet at all, as I would assume it does not qualify as a RailTeam high speed service?

I (and a couple of others) had no trouble being moved onto a later Eurostar when we arrived in Amsterdam 4h29m late. A couple of years ago.

 

[BazingaTribe]

I've encountered issues at Brussels too, but my experience then was that as long as you were in the queue by the 30 minute deadline you were safe.

Great. Yes, they actually do take pains to shepherd people into the right queue for the right train. I sometimes get priority because I use a walking stick but not in Brussels. (I was also sent to the in-person passport control because I had a stick and large luggage and those e-gates are simply put, pieces of inaccessible junk if you are anything other than able-bodied.)