The tram network in Brussels is by and large very efficient and reliable, and complements the Underground network well. Trams run more or less on time and from very early (0530ish) to pretty late (0030ish). As far as the cost of public transport goes, a day pass is just over £2 (BEF 130), and ... Read review
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Advantages: fairly cheap options Disadvantages: train connections can be unreliable
...sentence could await you for getting caught three times, that after having paid fines of around £40 and £80 first and second time round, I would not recommend faredodging, especially when a monthly ticket is only just over £20. For one you will require a passport folder for the first time you buy a monthly pass, but thereafter you get a monthly ticket to slide into the laminated pouch.
Of course you do need to be slightly on your guard ... more
The tram network in Brussels is by and large very efficient and reliable, and complements the Underground network well. Trams run more or less on time and from very early (0530ish) to pretty late (0030ish). As far as the cost of public transport goes, a day pass is just over £2 (BEF 130), and there are tickets that are valid for 5 or 10 journeys. Monthly passes are about £23 (BEF 1400), and work out as a good investment for anyone who is travelling regularly by public transport.
Probably the most useful tramroutes are the 23 and the 90 which are the largest circular routes, and are very reliable and can take you to a large percentage of the places you want to go to. The Métro is relatively simple with only three lines, (1A, 1B and 2) although the connectivity with the trams is excellent. There is also a section of the tram network called the Pre-Métro, which is essentially where the trams go underground.
A lot of other routes are served by a very reliable bus network which can sometimes work out as the quickest way across town. One thing to watch out for is which way you are travelling on the Métro, as it can be very easy to head in the wrong direction, and at some stations it is not very clear which platform is for which direction.
The trains however, vital for many people commuting are a lot less reliable, especially since they are often late, and connections don't tend to be held. Most trains tend to be about 5-10 mins late so connections from one train to another are dicey. If you are going out to/returning from the suburbs, this can cause a great deal of difficulty as trains often don't connect very well with each other.
For people using the trains frequently, the Go Pass for travellers under 26 offers ten single journeys for about GBP23 and this means theoretically a ticket to Arlon from Brussels return costs about 5 pounds return! There are also passes for commuting where you get 10 single journeys for the price of eight, and this is well worth investigating.
Brussels has a lot of different railway stations, which serve different directions, so be warned that you may well get a northbound train from the South Station (Gare du midi/Brussel Zuid) and not the otherway round! Eurostar goes to Gare du Midi/Brussel Zuid and from there there are a wide variety of buses, trams, métro and trains to allow you to travel onwards.
Faredodging is a big issue in Brussels with fines escalating rapidly, and a three strikes and you're out type system. Bearing in mind that a custodial sentence could await you for getting caught three times, that after having paid fines of around £40 and £80 first and second time round, I would not recommend faredodging, especially when a monthly ticket is only just over £20. For one you will require a passport folder for the first time you buy a monthly pass, but thereafter you get a monthly ticket to slide into the laminated pouch.
Of course you do need to be slightly on your guard as announcements fluctuate between French and Flemish (but usually both!) so keep an eye for which stop you are approaching!
Advantages: Cheap, reliable, on time. Disadvantages: Basic.
Belgian trains are a wonder to behold!
Most would appear to be more at home in the swining 60s - but they are all clean, cheap anfd punctual (someone tell Richard Branson how its done).
For little more than 200 BF (£3.20) you can go more or less where you want. And if you travel at the weekend its even cheaper.
Although at this price there is no excuse for skipping the fare, some do and are heavily penalised by the less-than-cheerful guards.
...
enevel 15.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Getting around in Brussels
Advantages: reliable, cheap Disadvantages: none compared to English transport systems
...This was extremely cheap, made getting from one place to another quick and easy and meant that i wasn't too tired to enjoy a good meal and sample one of the excellent Belgium beers in the evening!
I didn't catch a train from Brussels but I have used trains in Belgium, travelling from Antwerp, Brugge, Ostend and Gent. ...
iansingleton 27.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Getting around in Brussels
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Advantages: Reasonable Airfairs Disadvantages: Connection at Brussels
and helpful. This was repeated in all the airplanes.
The connection inBrussels was not a problem, we had to hang aroundBrussels airport for approximately one and a half hours, but this enabled us to shop in the duty free (although not really duty free when travelling in EU) and get a bite to eat. However on the return journey the plane was delayed by an hour and this caused problems inBrussels. It became a worry that we would miss the connection at Brussels. When we arrived in Belgium, we had to run around the airport, go through passport control, and the get to the plane to fly back to London. The joke was after having all this stress and running halfway around the terminal, we got back on the same plane again. It is now quite funny, but we were not amused at the time.
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