Starting in December 2027, there will be an improved train service to and from Brussels Airport, with additional early-morning trains from cities including Bruges and Ghent. This is outlined in the new transport plan from the Belgian national railway company NMBS/SNCB, which the Council has approved with Ministers.
Other notable changes include a 3% expansion of train service with additional trains between cities and in the suburban S-train network in and around Brussels, Antwerp, Liège, and Charleroi.
Arriving at 3:30 a.m.
Currently, the earliest trains from Bruges and Ghent arrive at Brussels Airport on weekdays only after 5:30 a.m., and those from Brussels arrive around 4:30 a.m. On weekends, they arrive even later, meaning travelers with early flights cannot rely on the train. Starting in December 2027, these trains will arrive as early as 3:30 a.m. and will also run seven days a week.
The plans are part of the new three-year transportation plan, which the Council approved for Ministers on Friday. The plan will be rolled out in three phases: the first in December 2026, the second in December 2027, and the third in December 2028.
New station Braine Alliance
The first phase also includes additional trains on weekdays and weekends between various cities and within the urban networks surrounding major cities. NMBS/SNCB has not yet provided details, but does mention additional late-night trains to and from Brussels on Saturday evenings.
A new station, Braine Alliance, will also open in Braine-l’Alleud/Eigenbrakel in December. And by 2028, the Moensberg and Linkebeek stations will merge into a single station.
The new transport plan aims to increase train service by 3%. In the previous plan (2023-2026), service was initially projected to grow by 7%, but that target was gradually adjusted to 5%.
The goal remains to increase train service by 10% between 2023 and 2032. However, NMBS/SNCB notes that these expansions depend on rail capacity, the completion of infrastructure projects, and the delivery of new trains.
For your information: Starting September 7, Deutsche Bahn will also operate two ICE trains per day in each direction between Cologne and Antwerp, with stops in Aachen, Liège, Leuven, and Brussels Airport. The new connection also means that a high-speed train will once again stop at Brussels Airport, something the airport has long advocated.
