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Getting from Cologne to Lille is easy! On this train journey, you just need to change trains once, at Brussels (Midi/Zuid) station, after your arrival there from Cologne.
This journey of over 300 km from Germany to France takes just over 3 hours on high-speed trains. And as an added bonus, you’ll arrive in the city centre!
The first leg of your journey will take you from the central station in Cologne (Köln Hbf) to Brussels (Midi/Zuid) station. This service runs several times a day with high-speed Eurostar or ICE trains, and takes just 1 hour 47 minutes.
At Brussels (Midi/Zuid) station, board the Eurostar or TGV INOUI trains to Lille. All you have to do is change platforms after your arrival from Cologne. Very easy!
There are around 8 direct trains from Brussels to Lille on weekdays. They’ll take you to Lille Europe train station in around 35 minutes. One of 2 major railway stations in the city, Lille Europe is an international hub for Eurostar and TGV INOUI so if your journey’s taking you further into France, this is the ideal starting point to do so.
Update: 25/01, 2pm
Due to announced strike, fewer trains will be operating on the Belgian rail network from Sunday 25 January (10 pm - CET) to Friday 30 January 2026 included.
An alternative train service will be drawn up based on available train staff. All details on this alternative train service will be available 24h in advance on www.belgiantrain.be.
Please take this alternative train service into account if you need to take a domestic connection in Belgium before or after an international train journey, or if you need to take our regional trains just across the border (Roosendaal, Maastricht, Aachen, Luxembourg, Lille or Maubeuge).
Information about international trains:
Eurostar:
Most Eurostar trains will operate normally. Check Eurostar's adapted timetables.
EuroCity (Brussels-Rotterdam)
Monday 26/01, Tuesday 27/01 and Wednesday 28/01 : 12 trains out of 16 will operate in each direction. The following trains are cancelled:
Lundi 26/01, Tuesday 27/01 and Wednesday 28/01: 8 trains out of 16 circulent will operate from Belgium to the Netherlands (most of them will terminate in Rotterdam, however). 9 trains out of 16 will operate from the Netherlands to Belgium (most of them departing from Rotterdam). The following trains are cancelled:
Besides, Eurocity Direct 9512 (departing from Amsterdam Zuid 06:03) will terminate in Antwerpen-Centraal instead of Brussels.
Validity of tickets for EuroCity and Eurocity Direct:
ICE (Brussels-Cologne-Francfort)
TGV INOUI
All TGV INOUI trains to and from Brussels are operating, except for:
Sunday 25/01
Monday 26/01
Tuesday 27/01 and Wednesday 28/01
OUIGO Brussels-Paris
Nightjet
Please check this page regularly for further updates.
Due to engineering works near the French border, InterCity trains connecting Belgium and Lille Flandres will be replaced by substitution buses from Saturday 21 February to Sunday 1 March between Tournai and Lille Flandres and between Mouscron/Moeskroen and Lille Flandres.
