I was travelling on the (late running) IC 9224 10:08 Rotterdam to Brussels Midi service on Sunday last (25th) hauled by SNCB loco 2815. The train which had a late start, originated from Rotterdam due to engineering works at Den Haag and got away about 35 mins late. The journey was initially un-eventful and a liitle time had been made up by Mechelen. Approaching Schaerbeek we crossed over to the north western side of the layout and stood in the station for 5 or more minutes then continued onto the line avoiding the central Brussels stations passing through Brussels West. I worked out that this was possibly to make up time by avoiding the run round at Midi we were going to run in from the south so that the train was ready to return back to Rotterdam. This is what we did arriving at Midi some 35 minutes down. That said the train didin't form the 12:45 back so I was't entirely sure what the point of the exercise was other than to reduce line occupation as two of the six tracks through the core were closed for engineering works.
The whole episode seemed to catch the NS conductor off guard because as we arrived at Midi he announced our arrival at Nord, though quickly corrected this when he realised where we were! That said whilst he'd done a good job at making announcements in up to 4 languages including reasons for the delays up to arriving in Brussels there was no appoligy or info for passengers on how to get back to Central or Nord, not that it's that difficult!
As we'd planned a leisurely lunch before catching a late afternoon Eurostar back to the UK it didn't really matter but others making connections may have been less than impressed.
The whole episode seemed to catch the NS conductor off guard because as we arrived at Midi he announced our arrival at Nord, though quickly corrected this when he realised where we were! That said whilst he'd done a good job at making announcements in up to 4 languages including reasons for the delays up to arriving in Brussels there was no appoligy or info for passengers on how to get back to Central or Nord, not that it's that difficult!
As we'd planned a leisurely lunch before catching a late afternoon Eurostar back to the UK it didn't really matter but others making connections may have been less than impressed.
