SNCB/NMBS Dispatch

[Segedunum]

Here's an interesting question - I know we've discussed Belgian dispatch procedures before but I've come across one particular habit that's currently getting on my nerves.

I'm on the 0556 IC from Brussels to Eupen - I'm off to Germany, but the ICE at 0623 looks to be fully reserved so I thought I'd catch this service and minimise the time I'm stood up or searching for a seat.

We should have left over 10 minutes ago and seemed to have the signal. At 0603, the conductor did a muffled announcement wishing us a pleasant journey.

Yet, we're still in the platform, doors locked. At this point I'd quite like to get off again and get the ICE so I'm not delayed. However, I'm stuck on board with no indication of what's going on.

I assume the procedure is to just do the dispatch on time, lock up and then the train will go whenever ready. Probably fine if its a short wait, but we're now getting on for 15 minutes.

You'd think I'd have learned my lesson after having a "quick hop" to/from Central last year, only for the train to lock up, sit there for 20 minutes then crawl along at near walking pace.

Why is this the case? I assume policy doesn't dictate that doors should be left unlocked until actually ready to depart.

Edit - at least in my case, I've managed to get off at Nord with five minutes to spare and switch over after we hobbled in about 20 minutes late...

 

[DanielB]

Not sure it actually has to do with the dispatch. I had a similar experience at Gent St Pieters about 1,5 years ago, being locked up after having boarded an already late train.
In that case the conductor announced that this was due to some technical malfunction to the train preventing it from departing after the doors had been closed. But information whilst stood along the platform was minimal.

 

[Segedunum]

There was an Antwerpen Centraal service on the opposite platform doing the same thing - so I don't know if there was a problem with the points/signalling/track on that specific pair of tracks.

Just seems to be a rather frustrating thing that happens semi-regularly, especially getting a jovial "have a nice journey!" announcement when something very clearly isn't right.

 

[rvdborgt]

Here's an interesting question - I know we've discussed Belgian dispatch procedures before but I've come across one particular habit that's currently getting on my nerves.

I'm on the 0556 IC from Brussels to Eupen - I'm off to Germany, but the ICE at 0623 looks to be fully reserved so I thought I'd catch this service and minimise the time I'm stood up or searching for a seat.

AFAIK, the Bahn.comfort seats (or whatever they're called this year) cannot be booked in advance and if you board early enough, you should be able to get one of them. It's quite rare for the first ICE out of Brussels to be fully booked but it's the start of a school holiday, so that's probably why.

We should have left over 10 minutes ago and seemed to have the signal. At 0603, the conductor did a muffled announcement wishing us a pleasant journey.

Yet, we're still in the platform, doors locked. At this point I'd quite like to get off again and get the ICE so I'm not delayed. However, I'm stuck on board with no indication of what's going on.

I assume the procedure is to just do the dispatch on time, lock up and then the train will go whenever ready. Probably fine if its a short wait, but we're now getting on for 15 minutes.

Belgium is special - I know no other country where the doors of a train are closed without knowing whether the train can actually leave.
That being said, I use that IC a lot from Leuven and over the past 20 years, it happened to me only once that it was delayed to much and I missed the connection at Liège.
I suppose you got off at Brussel-Noord to change to the ICE?

 

[Segedunum]

Re: the Bahn Comfort seats, that's exactly what I've ended up doing - the conductor was even telling people to do that. I did the same on my following train from Köln to Stuttgart.

I did abandon that IC in Noord - though I could have stayed on to Liège if I'd wanted. The ICE got stuck behind it, lost more time then unceremoniously dumped everyone in Köln to swap to another set, as is usual.

 

[rvdborgt]

I did abandon that IC in Noord - though I could have stayed on to Liège if I'd wanted. The ICE got stuck behind it, lost more time [...]

But you don't know in advance whether that will work. My delayed IC was once overtaken by the ICE on the other track in a similar situation...