What train would run Brussels to Belgium?

[JohnMcL7]

My Mum was travelling in Europe last week (specifically a week last Saturday) taking the Eurostar from London to Brussels then another train from Brussels to Bruge. She didn't get any pictures of this train but commented on how long it was and I was curious what this train was, she mentioned that it had a mix of double decker and normal carriages but didn't get a picture of it. I've been having a look online but with not knowing much about foreign train systems I've not really been able to find out much apart from some of the possible locomotives.

Anyone familiar with Belgian trains have any information on what this train would have been likely made up of?

 

[rvdborgt]

That would possibly have been an Eupen-Oostende train, currently often composed of 7 M7 double-deck carriages and 3 I11 / I10 single-deck carriages. It will become M7 entirely, as soon as there are (finally) enough M7 carriages.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Here’s an example formation (click ‘Show’)

https://www.vagonweb.cz/razeni/vlak.php?zeme=SNCB&kategorie=&cislo=504&nazev=&rok=2025

 

[JohnMcL7]

Thanks for the responses as I've been keen to see what the train was and interesting to see what it's made up of, I did wonder about the mix of double and single decker but that makes sense the plan is for all double decker.

 

[30907]

Happens in Switzerland as well.

 

[in_luzern]

The last few times I have done Luxembourg to Brussels it has been one single deck and four double deck coaches.

And yes, very common in Switzerland, especially on the Bern-Olten-Zürich route. Also on IR75 Zürich-Luzern, where they add a couple of single deck coaches to the nine double deckers during rush hours.

 

[BJB123]

My Mum was travelling in Europe last week (specifically a week last Saturday) taking the Eurostar from London to Brussels then another train from Brussels to Bruge. She didn't get any pictures of this train but commented on how long it was and I was curious what this train was, she mentioned that it had a mix of double decker and normal carriages but didn't get a picture of it. I've been having a look online but with not knowing much about foreign train systems I've not really been able to find out much apart from some of the possible locomotives.

Anyone familiar with Belgian trains have any information on what this train would have been likely made up of?

Hi John, did this route myself a couple of weeks ago, here‘s a pic of the trains running on that route.

 

[rvdborgt]

Hi John, did this route myself a couple of weeks ago, here‘s a pic of the trains running on that route.

That looks like Ghent, with a train to Liège, but those trains don't have mixed double and single deck carriages.

 

[BJB123]

Yes, it’s Ghent, took this train from Ghent to Brussels, but took an identical train from Brussels to Bruges a few days before.

 

[AlexNL]

Belgian loco-hauled stock is quite interesting, all their non-MU stock can work and operate together even in frankly bizarre composition.

See this formation for example:

M7 double decker car cars, M4 trailer cars, M7 double decker self-propelled end cars... in multiple!


Or this one, which I witnessed when I was in Liège back in 2023:


I11 cab car and trailer cars, an I10 trailer car, several M6/M7 double decker cars and finally a Siemens-built HLE 18 electric locomotive.

 

[MarcVD]

All locomotives, power cars, and driving trailers used by SNCB today make use of the same multiple unit coupling protocol, which works with higher than audible frequencies over the RIC audio coupling cable. That means any car equipped with this cable can be made part of a multiple unit consist, all locomotives can be coupled together, and any type of driving trailer can be used to control any locomotive. And yes, an M7 double decker powered car is considered as a locomotive too. So you can have for example an HLE18, a string of cars, and an M7 power car coupled together. It just works.