Ticket Validity in Belgian Zones

[Deerfold]

I'm just bought return tickets for tomorrow from Brussels Midi to Antwerp Centraal.

They've been issued as from Brussels Zone to Answerp Zone.

I've been trying to find out if that is a return journey within the zones or are multiple journeys allowed?

Obviously there's just the 1 long distance return journey included.

 

[paddington]

I assume you have a weekend ticket as "return" tickets don't exist otherwise.

I thought that this was not allowed, but according to the terms and conditions at https://cdn.belgiantrain.be/-/media/files/pdf/productfiches/fr/billet-week-end-20190101.ashx

Si votre gare* de départ et/ou de destination fait partie d’une Zone*, vous pouvez circuler librement toute la journée à l’intérieur de la ou des Zone(s)*, sans en sortir.

which seems to say that you are allowed to travel within each of the zones as much as you like. I have never seen tickets checked between the Brussels stations, though the Brussels Zone is wider than just those.

What you can't do is break your journey between Brussels and Antwerp (but if you take a stopping train and your ticket is not checked/clipped how is anyone to know)

 

[radamfi]

What you can't do is break your journey between Brussels and Antwerp (but if you take a stopping train and your ticket is not checked/clipped how is anyone to know)

Your link appears to show this to be allowed:

PUIS-JE FAIRE UNE HALTE DURANT MON VOYAGE ? Oui. Vous pouvez interrompre* votre voyage dans n’importe quel(le) gare* ou point d’arrêt* situé(e) sur l’itinéraire le plus court en kilomètres, et ce, dans le sens de votre destination.

 

[Deerfold]

I assume you have a weekend ticket as "return" tickets don't exist otherwise.

I thought that this was not allowed, but according to the terms and conditions at https://cdn.belgiantrain.be/-/media/files/pdf/productfiches/fr/billet-week-end-20190101.ashx



which seems to say that you are allowed to travel within each of the zones as much as you like. I have never seen tickets checked between the Brussels stations, though the Brussels Zone is wider than just those.

What you can't do is break your journey between Brussels and Antwerp (but if you take a stopping train and your ticket is not checked/clipped how is anyone to know)

I do have a weekend ticket. Seems to be a bargain.

Thanks for the help.

 

[paddington]

Your link appears to show this to be allowed:

You are right, I only read the bit about the zones.

However, I thought that you were supposed to buy a VIA ticket (i.e. priced the same as two separate tickets to/from the break point) if you wanted to break journey. Maybe that is only needed if you want to take a route other than the shortest distance.

 

[Spoorslag '70]

However, I thought that you were supposed to buy a VIA ticket (i.e. priced the same as two separate tickets to/from the break point) if you wanted to break journey. Maybe that is only needed if you want to take a route other than the shortest distance.

The rules have changed some time ago, discontinuing via-tickets but now include BoJ (but tickets are now only valid on the shortest and/or fastest route).

 

[dutchflyer]

Yes, that former VIA is gone and stops/breaks are now allowed, thats only since the last fare-revision on 1/2/19 this year thus. You are, of course, still tied to the shortest route in between the zones, in KM or sometimes in time.
Except for BRussel, they are not sold there-thats the city MTB-fare, one can buy a short-distance ticket return from zone A to zone A and use it effectively on trains only as a dayticket in that zone for less as 4 eur. (and thus likely also for a whole weekend). Most zones are quite short-main+other stop, but towns like LIége or Antwerpen or Gent offer more options.
Most west-europe countries use the zonal conecpt for larger towns, but not that Belgian extra of unlim., travel there. in Austria you only pay till first stop and the rest is free, in BE you pay to central station, going further thus is a tiny bargain, stopping short not. But here in NL due to that malicious chipcard and in CZ/CD it has been reorganized thus that each stop has its own set fares. A is mostly also the case in the UK.

 

[tasky]

I do have a weekend ticket. Seems to be a bargain.

Thanks for the help.

They are outrageously good value, I think Brussels to Antwerp is 8.60 euros return bought on the day, open return

 

[ricohallo]

A list of all Belgian zones and the stations they consist of can be found at the very bottom of this document: https://cdn.belgiantrain.be/-/media...775.765473063.1569632036-698768707.1567839110

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

Your link appears to show this to be allowed:

Translation:
PUIS-JE FAIRE UNE HALTE DURANT MON VOYAGE ?
Can I make a stop (BoJ) during my journey?

Oui. Vous pouvez interrompre* votre voyage dans n’importe quel(le) gare* ou point d’arrêt* situé(e) sur l’itinéraire le plus court en kilomètres, et ce, dans le sens de votre destination.

Yes. You can interrupt your journey (Eng: Break your journey) at any station or halt situation on the shortest [direct] route in kilometres, and [the station must be] in the sense [as in logically valid] of your route.

 

[Deerfold]

Thanks for your help. Weather was mostly good so we didn't do any extra travelling in either zone but walked (and ate) a lot.

We got 1st class tickets. On the way out the seats were exactly the same but in a different section. On the way back they were substantially better.

 

[tasky]

Thanks for your help. Weather was mostly good so we didn't do any extra travelling in either zone but walked (and ate) a lot.

We got 1st class tickets. On the way out the seats were exactly the same but in a different section. On the way back they were substantially better.

Yes, I think the only consistently applicable advantage of SNCB first class is an emptier carriage