The Dutch railway company Arriva intends to offer travelers some additional train connections. The company wants to operate trains from The Hague and Amsterdam to Antwerp, Brussels, and Brussels Airport from 2027 onward.

Arriva opposes the monopoly of NS, the national rail network in the Netherlands. Therefore, the company applied to operate 26 rail routes that NS now serves.

Brussels in favor

In any case, Brussels Airport is in favor of an additional connection. “We want to promote alternatives to short flights, such as between Amsterdam and Brussels,” says Nathalie Pierard, spokesperson for Brussels Airport. A direct connection without changing is a plus for travelers.

In the meantime, Brussels Airport is also discussing a possible return of Thalys trains to the airport with high-speed rail operator Eurostar. Still, these negotiations have not yielded any results yet.

Safety standards

The Belgian rail infrastructure manager, Infrabel, states several steps are required to obtain a travel permit in Belgium. The train equipment must, among other things, be adapted and meet Belgian safety standards.