Book your TGV Brussels-France train ticketsTGV Brussels-France

For most high-speed trains (notably Thalys, Eurostar, TGV INOUI, TGV Lyria and ICE), the cheapest fares are available in limited quantities. So to benefit from the best prices, we suggest you avoid peak times and book your journey as far ahead as possible.

In some circumstances, it can be more cost-effective to travel as a group, as some rail companies offer fares which are exclusively available to small groups of 3-5 passengers. Examples include the Thalys "Mini Group" fare or the "Pack Tribu" fare on TGV INOUI.

Finally, many railway operators regularly run temporary offers on fares, offering passengers good deals on rail travel. To ensure you don't miss out on these offers, we recommend you visit our website or Facebook page regularly, or sign up for our newsletter.

The booking period can vary from one type of train to another. The main international trains at a glance:

• Eurostar, ÖBB Nightjet, ICE, IC-Bus and other Deutsche Bahn trains: booking possible 6 months before travel.
• Thalys, TGV, TGV Lyria, Nightjet, Thello and Trenitalia trains: booking possible 4 months before travel.
• "Conventional" international trains (InterCity or regional trains): buying tickets without booking a seat, particularly to the Netherlands, Lille or Luxembourg, is possible 335 days (11 months) before travel. But unlike the other trains mentioned, there are no restrictions on the various fares on these "conventional" trains, so these are available up to the last minute.

Exceptions:

• Thalys seasonal services: for Thalys Snow to the French Alps, booking possible from the end of the summer for the whole ski season. For Thalys Sun to the south of France, booking possible from the end of the winter for the whole summer season (date to be specified each year).
• TGV early bird sale for travel in winter periods (Christmas and ski season) and summer periods (July and August). For these periods, the date of the early bird sale is to be specified each year.
• Every year in mid-December, different European rail companies simultaneously amend their train services, with new timetables taking effect more or less throughout Europe. On certain rail networks (particularly in Germany), the new timetables for mid-December are only confirmed and published at some point during October. When this occurs, bookings for rail travel from mid-December onwards can also only be made after a given date in October.

There's no strict limit on the number of luggage items that you can take with you on TGV INOUI, but make sure you only take luggage that you can easily carry and easily store in the spaces provided for this purpose.

Smaller luggage can be stored in the luggage racks right above your seat. For larger luggage, you will find spaces at the ends and in the middle of each carriage.

Each piece of luggage must be provided with a label showing the name and surname of the traveler (legal obligation in France)..

Are allowed as hand luggage: suitcases, travel bags and backpacks.

The following are also admitted as hand luggage (one item per traveller):

• a child's stroller (folded and stored in the luggage spaces of your carriage)
• a bicycle (folded folding bicycle or non-folding bicycle with dismantled wheels contained in a special cover with dimensions of maximum 1.20 x 0.90 m)
• een pair of skis
• a wakeboard transported in a bag of max. 1.20 x 0.90 m)
• a wheelchair for a traveller with reduced mobility (folded up, if the special wheelchair slot is not used).

For reasons of safety, children under 12 years of age are not allowed to travel alone on Thalys, Eurostar or TGV Brussels-France trains.

Most other rail companies do not apply any specific restrictions in this area. This means that children may travel alone on other trains providing this is authorised by law in the country concerned. In Belgium, for example, children can travel by themselves from 6 years old.

Therefore, you should find out what the law says in each country concerned.

In all circumstances, we recommend that children travelling without their parents carry a document from their local authority stating parental authorisation to travel.

Do you have another connection in Belgium before or after your international journey with Thalys, Eurostar, TGV INOUI or Nightjet? If so, you will need a specific ticket for this connection.

We advise you to buy our 'Connection' ticket in addition to your international ticket, which will enable you to take any train on the national SNCB network on the specified date between the Belgian station of your choice and the Belgian departure or arrival station of your international high speed train (Brussels-Midi, Antwerp-Central or Liège-Guillemins). However, you will need to specify your departure or arrival station in Belgium when you buy your 'Connection' ticket.

The price of the Connection ticket will depend on your travel class and on the flexibility level of your international ticket.

Price of the Connection ticket per single leg (valid from 13/12/2020) :

• Low Flex : €7,60 (2nd class) or €11,60 (1st class) - no refund possible
• Mid Flex : €9,50 (2nd class) or €14,50 (1st class) - refund with €5 costs until 1 day before the scheduled travel date.
• High Flex : €11,50 (2nd class) or €17,50 (1st class) - full refund for unused tickets until 1 day after the scheduled travel date. 

The Connection ticket is free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult (max. 4 free children per adult). There is a reduced child fare for unaccompanied children under 12.

To buy your 'Connection' ticket online, simply select your actual station of departure or arrival (e.g. Bruges, Namur or Antwerp instead of Brussels-Midi) when you book your international journey.

Please note: the 'Connection' ticket must be booked together with your international tickets within the same booking file.

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For commuters travelling daily between Brussels and Lille, there is a season ticket valid on all TGV INOUI and Eurostar trains operating on this short route.

This season ticket is made up of three items:

1. A "mother" card

The mother card costs €5 and is valid for five years on the Brussels-Lille route (in 1st or 2nd class), as well as on any connecting train taken within metropolitan Brussels.

2. A monthly validation ticket

The mother card is only valid when accompanied by a monthly validation ticket. This validation card is valid for a period of one month, starting from your chosen date. It can be purchased maximum 31 days before the validity period begins.

• Cost of a 2nd class validation ticket: €272/month
• Cost of a 1st class validation ticket: €401/month

3. A seat reservation for every journey

In addition to your season ticket, you must book every journey. The cost of this is €3 per journey. 

The three items of this season ticket are sold exclusively at SNCB International ticket offices at Brussels (Midi/Zuid) station.