Test drives
From Brussels to Amsterdam, the prices for a ticket for the new Eurocity Direct are between 25 and 64.1 euros, to Rotterdam on the Eurocity between 13.1 and 32.7 euros. Domestic travel remains possible on the Eurocity and NMBS tickets are therefore also valid within Belgium. That is not the case on the Eurocity Direct.
The NS is using new ICNG trains for the Eurocity Direct and started test runs this month: travelers who book a ticket between Amsterdam and Brussels will have the opportunity to board one of the new trains in the near future. On the Eurocity connection, the current Dutch ICR trains will be gradually replaced by NMBS I11 trains from December.
Chaos
Traveler organization TreinTramBus is not happy that the extra trains between Brussels and Amsterdam are at the expense of domestic connections. “The number of trains between the Netherlands and Belgium will double, but the number of trains between Antwerp and Brussels will decrease by a quarter,” chairman Peter Meukens emphasizes.
From December 15, only three instead of four IC trains per hour will run across Mechelen between the country’s two largest cities. “In the Netherlands, domestic travelers are also allowed to use that train, but not in Belgium. NMBS forbids Belgian train passengers to ride the Eurocity Direct from Antwerp to Brussels. We cannot understand this at all,” Meukens continues. “That will be chaos, because travelers already have to stand up.”
From December there will also be a new traditional train connection between Brussels and Paris (via Mons), which was temporarily revived last summer following the Olympic Games in the French capital. The connection already bore the name Eurocity; it is not clear whether it will be retained.
Eurocity Direct Test Drives: Swift Trains, Slow Minds
So, you fancy a train ride from Brussels to Amsterdam? Well, hold onto your tickets, because the new Eurocity Direct service is here! Prices range from a modest €25 to a jaw-dropping €64.10. It’s like playing roulette, but instead of betting on red or black, you’re betting on whether a seat will still be available by the time your price gets announced! Fancy a trip to Rotterdam? You’re looking at between €13.10 and €32.70. Remember, that doesn’t include the ticket price for your sense of self-worth as you contemplate spending that on a train ride! You might as well slap a €10 charge on your dignity while you’re at it.
Now, let’s talk about the sparkling new ICNG trains being rolled out for the Eurocity Direct route. They’re like the fancy new shoes of the rail world—looks great, but do they actually work? The NS (that’s the Dutch Railways for those not in the know) has started test runs, and if you book a ticket between Amsterdam and Brussels, you may get to ride one of these glorious innovations. Lucky you! Enjoy it while you can! A delightful coincidence: the old, rusty ICR trains you’ve been enduring will soon be swapping out for shiny NMBS I11 trains come December. Talk about a trade-up! It’s like going from a flip phone to a smartphone, only to realize that text messages still cost you an arm and a leg.
Chaos: The New Normal
Now, let’s dive into the juicy bit. According to TreinTramBus—quite the mouthful of a traveler’s organization—they’re not happy. And who could blame them? Apparently, while the number of trains between the Netherlands and Belgium may double, the connection between Antwerp and Brussels will be slashed by a quarter. Yes, you heard that right: three trains an hour instead of four! What a strategic move! It’s as if they’re managing a buffet and decided that everyone’s been overindulging. “You want to get somewhere? Eat less!” said no one ever, except perhaps the NMBS overlords.
Chairman Peter Meukens is the voice of reason here, as he points out the questionable logic of allowing domestic travelers in the Netherlands to hop on the Eurocity Direct, but watching the Belgians get shooed away like unwanted pigeons at a park. NMBS has declared: “No, you simply can’t board”. Why, you ask? I mean, who needs logic when you can just create chaos? Peter sums it up perfectly, “That will be chaos, because travelers already have to stand up.”
Ah, standing while traveling—the new form of endurance training! Why sit in comfort when you can bond with strangers in close quarters? That’s what I call a real adventure! The last time I ‘stood’ while traveling was on a overcrowded bus, and let’s just say my personal space was less ‘personal’ and more ‘communal’!
Train Connections: A Blast from the Past
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more chaotic, there’s a new traditional train connection making a comeback between Brussels and Paris via Mons, set to start in December. This connection had its glory days during the Olympics and is now trying to relive the magic. “Debatable Eurocity,” anyone? Will it retain its name? It’s a mystery, much like why anyone would travel via Mons other than those whose GPS systems have taken them astray.
So there you have it, folks! A train journey where ticket prices are a gamble and rail management resembles a game of musical chairs. Buckle up (or don’t; you probably won’t find a seat) and prepare for a wild ride through the Eurocity of your dreams—just make sure to hold onto your sanity!
