10 trip rail pass belgium

Sidewalk Safari | Part-time Travel Blog

Your 10 ride belgium rail pass: where are the best places to go, how to buy a 10 journey rail pass in belgium.

Brussels is an Ideal Home Base for Rail Travel in Belgium

Take the Train from Brussels to Ghent

Liege by Rail

Take a Train Excursion to Maastricht

Explore Mechelen With a Belgian Rail Pass

Hop Off the Train for A Visit to Quaint Lier

Leuven by Train

Ride the Rails to Bruges

What places would you go using a 10 journey rail pass in Belgium? 

Did you enjoy this post about exploring belgium by train sharing is caring....

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Rail Pass: get where you’re going for only € 7.70

Travel alone or with others for the low price of only € 7.70 per trip . The Rail Pass takes you where and when you want to go.

• Discount pass : 10 journeys for € 77 in 2nd class
• To any destination in Belgium
• 1 or more passengers on one Rail Pass
• No restrictions for a year
• More comfort: € 118 in 1st class

Attention! The Rail Pass cannot be used instead of our Group Tariffs.

If you travel to or from Brussels Airport - Zaventem, you also need to buy a Diabolo surcharge .

Practical Information

• For more details, refer to the Rail Pass terms and conditions (only available in Dutch or French)
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Eurail Belgium Pass

Starting From USD 145

Book Eurail Belgium Pass

Type of pass continuous.

• Unlimited travel within the set selected days For example: If you choose Consecutive 8 Days Swiss Travel Pass, you can travel unlimited times on Swiss Public Transport for 8 days.
• Pass is valid from the selected start date For example: If select start date as 1 st Jan 2024, then your pass is valid till 8 th Jan 2024 midnight.

Type of Pass flexi

• Unlimited travel within 1 month from the selected start date For example: If you choose Flexi 8 Days Swiss Travel Pass, you can travel unlimited times for 8 days in one month
• Pass is valid from the selected start date For example: If you select start date as 1 st Jan 2024, then your pass is valid till 30 th Jan 2024 and you can unlimited travel any 8 days within these 30 days.

Type of First class

• The First Class pass means a passenger can access the first-class sections of public transport like Train and Boat.
• In a train, the first-class seating is more spacious and have a separate section
• In a boat, the first -class section is the upper deck of the boat

Type of Second class

• The Second Class pass means a passenger can access only the second-class sections of public transport.

Eurail One Country pass only allows travel in the selected European country. 

Can not be sold to or used by residents of Europe, the Russian Federation and Turkey.  

Pass must be activated within eleven months after purchasing date, and before the first travel, through the Eurail Rail Planner App .

Seat/bed reservations for mandatory bookable trains still need to be purchased and are an additional cost to the rail pass. Seat reservations may be limited on some services, advance bookings are recommended (reservations are booked via the Rail Planner app or at the train station).

Discounts available: - Senior: for passengers 60 and over (except with the Eurail Germany Mobile pass) - Youth: for passengers under 28 - Children 4-11: free in the limit of 2 children by paying adult otherwise a youth pass should be purchased. Seat/bed reservations for mandatory bookable trains still need to be purchased. Children under 4: free (except if a reservation for a separate seat/bed is required) 

A 85% refund applies to completely unused and unactivated passes. Request must be submitted no later than six months from the last possible activation date indicated on the mobile Pass. 

Combo Offers

Swiss Travel Pass + Jungfrau, Titlis & Matterhorn

Swiss Travel Pass + Jungfrau

About Eurail Belgium Pass

• Unlimited train rides.
• Choose from 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 travel days within 1 month.
• Discounted fares for passengers below the age of 28 years under the youth category.
• Discounted fares for passengers above 60 years of age under senior category
• Children below the age of 12 years travel for free if travelling with adult holding a Eurail Benelux Pass.
• No need to choose a start date until the moment you’re ready to travel.
• Free, instant delivery – add it straight to the Eurail Rail Planner app.
• Free replacement Pass if you lose your phone.

Why To Buy Pass

• Travel extensively to the destination of your choice
• Unlimited coverage across Europe
• Discounts on ferries, hotels, city cards & many more
• Child under 12 yrs free

How It Works

Select your pass.

Selecting your Eurail One country pass is important as it should align with your travel dates, if you intend to move between cities every day then you should select a consecutive pass as it would decrease your travel expense and if on the other hand your travel plan has longer halts between cities then a flexible pass should make travelling easier.

Confirmation

Follow simple steps to book your Eurail pass which lets you view rates, select the number of passengers, the number of days and see your final amount payable. Enter passenger information (name, date of birth, email id etc.) before you proceed to the payment page.

Make the Payment

After selection of the pass and confirmation of your details mentioned above, you will be directed to 3D secured payment page where you can make payment by Debit/ Credit Card/ Net Banking/ UPI.

Get your pass

Once you book your pass, an email confirmation will be sent to your registered email id. Then follow the instructions to load the mobile pass. Traveling with a mobile Pass is simple – all you need is your phone, the Rail Planner app (Android 6.0 / iOS 10.0 / iPhone 5)

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FAQs on Eurail Belgium Pass

What is a eurail one country pass.

Eurail One Country Pass is an all in one pass which offers flexible access to uncover the chosen country's rich history, amazing food, and vibrant culture by train. Travel between popular cities within the country is included. For example: Travel between Venice, Rome and Florence – Within Italy; Paris, Nice, Lyon – Within France or Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart – Within Germany.

Which Pass Should I buy?

Identifying the right Eurail One Country Pass depends on your travel route. Choose from 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 days within 1 month. Choose from flexible or consecutive 1st class or 2nd class passes depending on your budget.

What is an Adult Pass?

Passengers above the age of 28 years will be eligible to take an adult Pass

What is a Youth Pass?

A person aged between 12-28 years can purchase a youth pass.

How much in advance should we purchase the Eurail One Country Pass?

You can order your pass upto 11 months before your trip starts. Once purchased, you are required to activate your pass within 11 months from the time it is purchased. In order to activate your Mobile Pass, follow the instructions you receive in your order confirmation email. You will be asked to add your Pass to the Rail Planner app and activate it so it's ready for travel.

Are seat reservations required for every train journey?

Reservations are required on most high speed, overnight, scenic, and trains. With the Eurail One Country Pass you may travel on the above mentioned trains which require additional seat reservations. Please check your desired segment for any specific seat reservation requirements as most of the high speed, overnight, scenic require a mandatory reservation.

What is difference between purchasing a sector ticket and a Eurail One Country pass?

A rail pass and a train ticket are two different travel documents. A train ticket is valid for a single point to point journey. Some of the train tickets include a seat reservation in Italy which means that they are valid for a specific train and for specific date and time only. In some cases, the sector tickets (sometime reservations included in cost) become cheaper than buying a One Country pass but it depends on the number of days of your desired travel and the required journeys. On the other hand, a rail pass is unique travel document which offers unlimited travel across the selected country. These do not have seat reservations included in the cost, so the passenger has the flexibility to choose the date and time he wants to travel at. The seat reservations with the Eurail One Country pass will cost you approx. Eur 12 per person per sector.

What is the difference between a Consecutive-day pass and a Flexi pass?

A consecutive-day pass provides unlimited rail travel on all days for the chosen duration of the pass. This pass is preferred by those who wish to travel every day during their visit in Europe. A flexi pass is valid for a specific number of days which can be used consecutively or non-consecutively within a longer period. This pass is preferred by those who wish to travel only on certain days.

What is the difference between 1st and 2nd class?

The difference between 1st and 2nd class is the level of comfort and facilities available. Generally 1st class is costlier than second class as you get more leg space and additional benefits such as free wifi, adjustable reclining seats, extra wide tables, food and beverage services etc.

What should I do if there is incorrect information on my Pass?

If the details on your mobile Pass are incorrect or outdated and you can’t change it yourself, please get in touch with our staff. If your Pass has not been activated yet, we will be able to change the information for you (Not applicable for Non-refundable / promotional passes) only if it is informed to us prior to your travel. Once activated passes become fully non-refundable.

What details is required to book a Eurail One Country pass?

Full name, country of residence, and passport number should be as per your valid passport.

What is a Mobile Pass and how does it work?

A Mobile Pass is an electronic pass that can be loaded on your cell phone with the Rail Planner App. It is mandatory to download the Rail Planner App in order add / view / validate your Eurail Pass. While on tour, you would also need an internet connection once every three days (to keep the app updated and ensure the pass is active).

What are the initial steps to follow once I receive a Eurail Mobile Pass confirmation?

First and foremost you will have to download the Rail Planner App. Once you open the app, add the pass to the app by entering your surname and pass number (mentioned in your confirmation email). You should then be able to see your Eurail Pass in “My Pass”. If you have a child pass, you will have to load the Child pass too on the device. Next, you will have to choose or create trips to keep track of the journeys you will be taking. Finally, you will have to activate your Mobile pass. This has to be done before you start your journey, by adding your passport number and the first date of travel. Your pass will be valid for travel from the chosen date only, for the validity period chosen at the time of booking.

How soon can I validate my Mobile pass?

If your dates are fixed, validate your pass during the course of adding it to the app. If you’re not sure of your travel dates, you can activate it anytime later. You have upto 11 months from the date of purchase, to activate your pass. Please note that validating a Eurail pass is compulsory before boarding the first journey.

How do I show my ticket to the ticket inspector?

The ticket inspector will scan the barcode on the Eurail Pass and check whether the train you are traveling on is added as a journey to the pass. In order to do this, in your App, go to “My Pass” and then click on “Show ticket”. The inspector can even ask for your passport to see if it matches with the Eurail Pass.

What does it mean to add “add a journey” to the app?

Adding a journey means adding the sectors that you will be travelling on, using the Eurail Pass. Every journey you add to your pass, gives you a valid ticket. This ticket then needs to be shown to the ticket inspector while on board. Please note, adding a journey does not mean or entitle a seat reservation.

Can I cancel my first travel day once it has been added to the pass?

Yes, you can change or cancel the first travel day anytime before the start of the date (00:00 hours). Once the travel day has started, you cannot cancel or modify it. Please keep in mind that some countries follow CET (Central Europe Time) time, so there could be a difference in the start and end time of a travel day, compared to your local time.

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Discover one of Europe’s most diverse countries by rail. Known for its variety of beers, taste a different beer in every Belgian city - with your Interrail Pass. Seize the opportunity to visit the cosmopolitan capital of Brussels and other vibrant cities like Bruges and Antwerp. In Belgium, where the train stops in every city, new adventures are right around the corner.

Belgium quick facts

Population: 11 million

Language: Dutch, French, German

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Dialing code: +32

Trains in Belgium

Get more information about Belgium’s rail network, different train types and reservation requirements. More about trains in Belgium

Interrail Passes for Belgium

Interrail benelux pass.

The Interrail Benelux Pass is the best way to explore Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Visit cities like Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Rotterdam and Bruges by train.

View Interrail Benelux Pass

Interrail Global Pass

The Interrail Global Pass is the flexible and budget-friendly way to get around up to 33 countries in Europe. Travel by train from one cool destination to the next. One day you're on a pub crawl through Amsterdam and the next you're white-water rafting in Interlaken, Switzerland.

View Interrail Global Pass

Pass benefits in Belgium

Get a discount on hotels in Brussels, as well as other useful benefits.

All extra pass benefits in Belgium

Places to visit

Ardenne adventure

For those in need of outdoor activity, the Ardennes is a place that has everything you need to ignite your adrenaline reserves. Get hiking or biking around the Ardennes woods, or kayak, white-water raft or fish within the fast-flowing rivers that have carved this area. Journey around this flora- and fauna-rich corner of Belgium and stop off at some of the pretty little villages along the way, including La Roche-en-Ardenne . The town of Dinant is also a good base from which to enjoy fun outdoor pursuits, such as abseiling, paintballing and climbing.

Brussels: The EU’s centre

As the nucleus of the European Union and home to the NATO headquarters, you would be right to expect Brussels (Bruxelles, Brussel) to have a multi-cultured and vibrant air. The central hangout and meet-up spot of the city is the Grand Place square . At one of the relaxed café terraces you can enjoy fine flavours by day or night. Or why not soaking up the astounding architecture of the eighteenth-century guild houses and the impressive spired town hall? Brussels has plenty on offer to keep you busy for a few days.

Fall head over heels with Bruges and Ghent

One of Belgium’s most-loved places is Bruges (Brugge), often referred to as the 'Venice of the North'. The small city has legions of fans thanks to its immaculate Medieval complexion and quaint charms. Revere in the city’s romantic canals and authentic architecture. Close by is another little stunner – the city of Ghent (Gent). Spend some time at the part-moated Gravensteen castle , built during the Middle Ages. But Ghent is best enjoyed by aimlessly wandering along its endless cobbled streets or blissfully breezing through the canals by boat.

Hip Antwerp

Visit Belgium’s second-largest city, Antwerp . It’s become increasingly popular for its effortlessly cool and hip vibe. As well as being a draw for fashionistas seeking out the latest designs, it also pulls in party revellers ready to rock on until the sun shows its head. Begin the evening’s assault stumbling upon authentic drinking holes and tasting Belgian’s beer selection – a good choice is Pater’s Vaetje pub . Once well-watered head to the regenerated docklands for partying into the early hours at one of the popular clubs.

Picturesque coastline

Belgium has 65 kilometres of well-groomed coastline to brag about. Located in West Flanders are the white sands of Ostend (Oostende) – unsurprisingly a tourist hotspot during the summer months. The most popular beach is Grootstrand , where you’ll find a multitude of Belgian and Dutch tourists lazing beneath the sun. The city also has quite a lot going on at night, so once you’ve worn yourself out at the beach, enjoy some chilled beers at a cosy Belgian pub and enjoy!

23 February - 25 February, 2020

This celebration before the Lent is all about colourful costumes, rich folklore, food, music, parades and performances. The most popular and famous event is held in Binche. You haven’t seen anything until you set eyes on the wax-masked Gilles clowns throwing oranges at passersby.

Related Pages

Change of currency.

You cannot change the currency once you have a Pass in your cart. Remove the Pass, and then change the currency on the website header.

Related Content

Journeys within belgium:, the ice trains:, the thalys trains:, the intercity - brussels (intercity direct) trains:, the eurostar trains:, the tgv bruxelles-france trains:, the other rail pass guides:, other relevant train travel guides:.

Using Interrail and Eurail Passes in Belgium

How to use Eurail and InterRail passes on Belgian train journeys and on international trains to and from Belgium

As reservations aren't required on any train operated by the Belgian national rail company, NMBS/SNCB, you can hop on/off virtually any train in Belgium if you're travelling with a Eurail or InterRail Pass. The only notable exceptions are the Thalys trains between Brussels/Bruxelles and both Antwerpen and Liege/Luik on which rail passes can't be used at all.

To get value for money out of your pass while in Belgium, it's a good idea to plan multi stop day trips - and to see more than one great city in a single day. These feasible multi-city itineraries include... (1) Antwerpen → Gent → Brugge → Antwerpen (2) Bruxelles → Antwerpen → Gent → Bruxelles (3) Bruxelles → Mons → Ieper/Ypres → Bruxelles (4) Bruxelles → Gent → Brugge → Bruxelles

On international trains:

How InterRail and Eurail passes can be used on international trains to and from Belgium differs according to which service you will be travelling by:

You can travel between Belgium and Germany on the ' ICE International' trains at no additional charge. So if you have a rail pass, target these trains and avoid the Thalys trains (see below) for journeys between Belgium and Germany.

Paying the OPTIONAL reservation fees of €5.30 if you have a 1st class pass, or €4 if you have a 2nd class pass, to guarantee a seat on these ICE International trains can seem comparatively expensive; particularly for the relatively short journeys between Bruxelles/Liege and Aachen/Koln. Though if you want to be sure of a seat on the longer journeys between Bruxelles and Frankfurt, it can be worth looking up the train you're planning to take on DB - the German national railways booking service. Carry out the steps required to book a ticket and it will warn you if a particular ICE departure is likely to be exceptionally busy.

Rail pass users have to pay comparatively expensive rail pass reservation fees/supplements on all routes by Thalys trains, so avoid them if possible. If you do want to travel on a Thalys, ideally book at least couple of weeks ahead of your travel, as rail pass reservations on Thalys trains can sell out, as a limited number of reservations per departure will be available to rail pass users.

A major recent change is that the rail pass reservation fees on the Thalys trains are now the same price, whether you will be using First or Second class passes. Though users of Second Class passes will have to travel in Standard Class on the Thalys trains.

In contrast First Class pass users will be offered a choice of seating, depending on availability at the time of booking. If Premium Class is still available then that will be offered, if reservations are sold out in Premium Class you will be offered Comfort Class (1st class), but if Comfort Class is sold out and Standard Class reservations are still available, you will only be offered seats in Standard Class.

The new fees (in either direction) are: Paris <> Bruxelles/Antwerp/Liege = €25Paris<> Aachen/Koln/Dusseldorf/Essen = €30 Paris <> Rotterdam/Schiphol/Amsterdam= €30 Bruxelles/Antwerpen <> Rottterdam/Schiphol/Amsterdam = = €20 Bruxelles/Liege <> Aachen/Koln/Dusseldorf/Essen = €25

The reservations be booked for a fee of €2 per person on the Eurail/InterRail reservation service and bookings usually open up to 4 months ahead, so book in advance to maximise your choice of departures, rail pass reservations can sell out on the most popular trains, particularly in the summer.

You can also make reservations for journeys by Thalys trains on B-Europe . Though in effect you will be paying a €4 fee for using B-Europe, as it only sells rail pass reservations as 'mobile tickets', so that you can download the reservations and store it on your phone, but it applies a surcharge for booking these. So it's more expensive than using the reservation services provided by Eurail and InterRail, but reservations can be available to book on B-Europe for specific departures, when the Eurail and InterRail reservation services don't have them.

B-Europe will ask for pass numbers when booking, but it only accepts the numbers issued with paper passes. If you have a mobile Eurail pass you can use this pass number generation service and InterRail mobile pass purchasers can used this pass number generation service ; you enter your mobile pass number. so that you'll also then have a paper number.

You can avoid these Thalys reservation fees by making indirect journeys with multiple changes of train.

Seats reservations aren't available on the ' InterCity Brussels ' trains - so you won't pay any extra to travel with a valid rail pass by these trains on these two routes: (1) Brussels/Bruxelles - Mechelen - Antwerpen - Breda - Rotterdam - Schiphol - Amsterdam (2) Brussels/Bruxelles - Mechelen - Antwerpen - Breda - Rotterdam - Den Haag/The Hague

So if you will be using a rail pass and travelling between Belgium and The Netherlands in either direction, target these trains and avoid the comparatively expensive rail pass reservation fees on the high speed Thalys trains - see below.

The Eurostar reservation fee is a flat rate of €30 in 2nd/standard class and €38.50 in Premiere/1st class; the 1st class rate can be exceptionally good value, particularly when the most heavily discounted tickets have sold out. Though Belgian and UK residents can only use the reservation fees on the first and/or last days on which they will be using a pass, due to the InterRail validity T&Cs.

A limited number of reservations are available to rail pass users, so booking at the earliest opportunity is highly recommended, the most popular departures can 'sell out' more than a week in advance.

Reservations are usually available up to 6 months ahead and they can be booked for a fee of €2 per person on the Eurail/InterRail reservation service; the rail pass reservation link on the Eurostar website is now directed at the Eurail/InterRail reservation service.

If you opt to use the paper version, or now the mobile* version, of the Eurail/Interrail pass, Eurostar reservations can also be booked B-Europe up to 4 months ahead of the travel date. *= Using B-Europe's reservation service had only been an option for users of paper passes, as the type of numbers used for mobile pass users are rejected by B-Europe But new online services have been launched which enable mobile pass users to obtain the necessary paper pass numbers. Eurail mobile pass purchasers can use this pass number generation service and InterRail mobile pass purchasers can this pass number generation service .

However, B-Europe will only sell the reservations a 'mobile tickets', which incur a €4 surcharge. So booking with B-Europe is more expensive than using the Eurail and InterRail reservation services, but reservations can be available for a specific departure on B-Europe, when they are not available with Eurail or Eurail.

Either side of the Christmas and Easter holidays and when travelling in July and August it's not unknown for some departures to sell out more than a month ahead; and it's the most poplar departures which will sell out soonest. If you will need to travel by a specific Eurostar departure, you'll to check that rail pass reservations are available for the train you need to take prior to buying a pass, and then book the reservations as soon as you have made a pass purchase and therefore have a pass number. Check the availability on B-Europe and on the InterRail/Eurail websites .

Rail pass reservations have to be booked before boarding the TGV trains between Bruxelles/Brussels and cities in France, other than Paris* including Avignon, Lyon , Marseille and Montpellier . Though the comparatively expensive rail pass reservation fees are 1st class = €30; 2nd class = €20.

The reservations be booked for a fee of €2 per person on the Eurail/InterRail reservation service after you have purchased a pass and bookings usually open up to 3 months ahead, so book in advance to maximise your choice of departures, rail pass reservations can sell out on the most popular trains, particularly in the summer. It also seems that the reservations for some departures are permanently sold out, so if you encounter this scenario contact Eurail or InterRail.

The other booking options for rail pass users on these trains are: (1) Book at a station in Belgium, ideally before your travel date, though you will be charged a booking fee per reservation. (2) If you will be travelling through Germany prior to arriving in Belgium, you can book reservations for these trains without paying booking fees at the Reisezentrum travel desks at the major stations.

*Thalys provides the direct train services between Bruxelles and Paris.

The alternative to the direct TGV trains:

If your travel itinerary includes direct travel between Bruxelles/Brussels and one of those cities in France, south of Paris, the only viable alternative to taking these direct TGV trains, is usually to take a Thalys train to Paris and then to travel on from Paris by TGV trains .

The reservation fees on that combination of trains will be either: - €30 or €40 if you have a 2nd class pass, - €40 or €50 if you have a 1st class pass. You will also have to buy a ticket for the RER trains between the stations in Paris because rail passes cannot be used on those trains.

So IF it's an option, taking these TGV Bruxelles-France trains will be cheaper AND you can also avoid having to make the transfer across Paris .

Simon Harper

I wanted to share my passion for train travel and explain how anyone can take the fantastic journeys I have taken.

This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney , which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.

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Rail pass or 10 Journey pass ? - Belgium Forum

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Are there any difference between the two types of passes ?

The difference is 100 euros, it doesn't make any sense to buy a 10 journey ticket (with specified stations) if I can buy a rail pass to any destination as well as being cheaper.

A 10-journey pass is for 10 trips between THE SAME 2 stations, and costs the same as 10 standard singles between those 2 stations, i.e. for Leuven -Brugge, 10 x €17.70. In other words, it provides no cost saving over individual tickets, merely a simplification for somebody commuting between those 2 points for 5 days (whether consecutively or over a period of time), who wouldn't have to buy individual tickets.

Thanks for your prompt reply as usual .

I'll definitely buy the rail pass.

"I'll only be taking the train to Bruges " - I presume that can't be true, because if indeed you were ONLY going from Leuven to Brugge and back to Leuven, and if there is only 1 of you, then buying individual tickets would cost €35.40 return on a weekday (€17.70 x 2) or €18.60 on Sat/Sun (weekend ticket); or on weekends in December, as well as between Christmas and New Year, you can get a day-return "shopping ticket" for €10: http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/tickets/shopping-ticket.aspx

Using Rail Pass, Leuven-Brugge-Leuven would effectively cost €15.20 out of the €76 overall price: but it would only be worth spending €76 if you would be using enough of the remaining 8 trips to make that worthwhile!

There are only 4 elements you have to complete on each line of the pass, for example: Monday (or whatever) - 20/12/16 - Leuven - Brugge and then on your return, Monday - 19/12/16 - Brugge - Leuven.

If you have to change trains in Ghent on the way between Leuven and Brugge (or on the way back), this is till 1 trip, but "changing trains" means taking the next possible departure. You won't be in trouble if you miss a short connection and take the next one (there are 4 or 5 trains an hour between Gent St; Pieters and Leuven), but if you are found on a Ghent-Leuven train some hours after you were on a Brugge-Ghent train, it will be clear that you interrupted your journey in Ghent, which means 2 trips, not 1, between Brugge and Leuven. Of course you may stop off in Ghent if you wish, but then you must fill in the Pass for EACH journey, e.g. Leuven-Ghent, Ghent-Brugge, Brugge-Leuven (or Leuven-Brugge, Brugge-Ghent, Ghent-Leuven).

I will definitely be using the pass for more than just one trip, else I would have bought a single ticket.

As for the bus tickets , this is what made me think that a 10 journey card will be cheaper. On the De Lijn buses, a single ticket costs 3 euros while a 10 trip ticket costs 14 euros ( 1.4 euro per trip )

Rail PASS replaces tickets that would have cost different prices, so even if some journeys cost less than €7.60 anyway (e.g. Leuven-Brussels, €5.30; Ghent-Brugge, €6.60), you can hopefully gain overall by using it for trips that cost more than that. Of course on any day when you can get the shopping ticket (€10, day return) that is also cheaper than using 2 lines on Rail Pass, at €15.20.

Very interesting qaminari. I'm an occasional visitor but was not previously aware of the rail Pass - I see that you are allowed one year in which to use up your ten trips.

If you would be coming from London on Eurostar , note that 1 trip on Rail Pass can be cheaper than the ABS supplement, covering travel on a local train from Brussels to Any Belgian Station, e.g. Brugge, on either the same day as the London-Brussels trip, or the following day; with the added benefit of not being tied to any specific date.

In fact the price difference between London-Brussels and London-Brugge (/ABS) varies, for example when London-Brussels 2nd class costs €228, London-Brugge costs €243 (= €15 difference - more expensive even than a standard single Brussels-Brugge, at €14.30); but when it costs €190, London-Brugge costs €197 (€7 difference); while at €60.50, it's €68.50, and at €75.50, €83.50 (€8 difference).

All this means is that for anyone thinking of using Eurostar/Thalys AND making several train trips while in Belgium , it may be worth considering Rail Pass, and also considering using it for any trip that might otherwise have been done using the local portion of an ABS ticket (and so, possibly not buying an ABS ticket when intending to purchase Rail Pass).

That said, Rail Pass isn't worth it for those under 25 or over 65 and may not be worth it for (return) trips that could be done using weekend tickets (or for day trips when the December "shopping ticket" is available), or of course to destinations that cost less than €7.60 anyway.

The plan is to land in Brussels and spend the day/night on April 1. Then head to Bruges April 2 - 4, spend the 4th in Ghent and then on to Amsterdam for 4 nights. I just am wondering if buying ahead can actually hurt me in the end if the tickets are only good for the specific time

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I think it's one year. If it is in Dutch see if you see a "GELDIG TOT" date printed on it. (I am not sure what it says exactly in French... probably something like "valable...".)

It’s not very clear from the English version of the website, but the pass is only valid for 1 year. The English version mentions; No restrictions for a year.

However the Dutch version of the website states; “1 jaar geldig”, which translates literally as “1 year valid”

https://www.belgianrail.be/nl/biljetten-abonnementen/leeftijd/adults-seniors/af-en-toe/rail-pass.aspx

https://www.belgianrail.be/en/tickets-railcards/age/adults-seniors/now-and-then/rail-pass.aspx

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How a rail pass could be just the ticket for cheap travel across Europe for all ages

Across europe, budget-friendly initiatives are designed to tempt people out of their cars and into more sustainable forms of transport.

Travelling by train can be less stressful and more sustainable than touring by car during the summer. Photograph: iStock

Slow travel is back in fashion. Fearful of climate concerns, an increasing number of people are opting to swap the faster – and let’s be honest, often cheaper – flight option for a ferry/rail/bike combination.

But even if you can’t afford the time required for a slower trip to your destination, flying but then swapping a rental car for the train this summer can still make sense.

It may also save you money, thanks to initiatives across Europe aimed at getting people out of their cars and back on the train.

So, with this in mind, here are some options for low-cost travel this summer. Each has their own rules and, in general, they don’t offer travel on the high-speed services, so it will pay to examine the terms and conditions of each closely before you purchase.

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Cost: €49 a month

Eligibility: Open to all

Where to buy: Irish residents can buy a rail pass via bahn.de or the DB Navigator app. The original European low-cost rail ticket, the €9-a-month pass, was launched in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, offering unlimited travel across Germany. More than 50 million passes were bought by residents and tourists but, unfortunately, it was just a temporary measure.

The good news is that while its replacement is more expensive, at €49 a month, it is here to stay.

The Deutschland-Ticket (D-ticket) is now valid right across Germany, on all local public transport, including the RB, RE, S-Bahn trains (SPNV) and also on public transport such as buses, trams, subways, etc. (ÖPNV) – but not the high-speed ICE trains.

Berlin's Brandenburg Gate: A ticket from the city to Cologne on the intercity train will cost about €80 one way, so the slower Deutschland-Ticket (D-ticket) is a better option. Photograph: iStock

This means that while you can still travel by rail from Munich to Berlin, for example, it will take longer than the faster intercity option. But it will save you money. A ticket from Berlin to Cologne on the faster intercity train will cost about €80 one way, for example.

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A word of warning. The ticket is only available on a monthly subscription basis, so be sure to cancel it – by the 10th of the month – once you no longer need it.

Eligibility: Those aged 27 and under

Where to buy: The new “pass rail” is expected to go on sale in June via SNCF Connect

Catch an Olympics soccer match in Nice, then head to Marseilles for some bouillabaisse. Keep going west to catch some waves, then fly home from Biarritz.

This year the French government is set to launch the new “pass rail”, which targets those aged 27 and under. The pass will be eligible on local TER as well as intercity trains – but not the more expensive, high-speed TGVs. It also won’t apply to the Île de France region (ie Paris).

If you’re a little older than 27, there are other passes to consider in l’Hexagone, as the country is sometimes referred to. If you’re heading to the southeast of France, for example, you could consider “le Pass Occitanie Rail Tour”. Covering regional routes operated by liO Train across the Occitania region, it covers towns including Montpellier, Rodez, Nimes and Toulouse. Intercity and TGV trains are excluded.

If you’re heading to the southeast of France, consider 'le Pass Occitanie Rail Tour'. It covers towns including Montpellier, Rodez, Nimes and Toulouse (above). Intercity and TGV trains are excluded. Photograph: iStock

The pass would, for instance, allow you to fly to Toulouse, then take a bike or a boat on the Canal-de-Midi before getting the train to Carcassonne for some medieval viewing, and head south for a beach holiday in Argelès-sur-mer or Collioure, via Narbonne and Perpignan.

The pass costs from €20 for two days of consecutive travel and up to €60 for six consecutive days of travel. You can buy it at www.ter.sncf.com/occitanie .

In Brittany, if you haven’t opted to take the ferry and drive, you could consider a TER BreizhGo pass. For €55, you and up to four other travellers can enjoy unlimited travel in the region for two days, including the weekend. A seven-day pass is available at €110.

If you fly to Rennes for example, you could take the train to see the walled town of St Malo, and enjoy the beaches in the area, before travelling west to Quimper or Vannes.

Cost: €18 for one week/€35 for one month

Eligibility: Under 26

Where to buy: www.belgiantrain.be

If you’re spending a week, or a month, in Belgium this summer, the Youth Holidays pass offers excellent value, starting at just €18 for unlimited travel across the country.

The catch? You have to be under 26, and the pass only applies in the summer holidays. This year it will work from June 29th until September 1st.

The Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium: If you’re spending a week, or a month, in Belgium, the Youth Holidays pass offers excellent value, starting at just €18 for unlimited travel. Photograph: iStock

You can use the pass to travel to and from Brussels airport, but a supplement (€6.70) will apply. You can also travel part of the way to Charleroi Airport, which is where Ryanair flies into, with the pass.

Cost: €49 (no further discounts available)

Eligibility: Everyone

Where to buy: At a Comboios de Portugal office

Fly to Porto with Ryanair and after a few days sipping port and eating sardines, take the train down to Lisbon, with some stops on the way in Aveiro and Fatima. Then on to Cascais for some lounging on the beach, before hitting Albufeira and the Algarve. Get the train direct to Faro and choose between Ryanair and Aer Lingus to fly home to Ireland. All without renting a car, and all for the princely sum of just €49 each.

If this sounds like a plan, you should consider the Passe Ferroviário Nacional, or National Train Pass.

You will have to get a CP card for €6 at a ticket office, for which you will need some passport pictures (CP stands for train operator Comboios de Portugal). The pass will then be loaded onto the CP card.

The old town of Porto, in Portugal, across the Douro River: Consider the Passe Ferroviário Nacional, or National Train Pass, for getting around. Photograph: iStock

If you want to hit the Algarve after Lisbon, bear in mind that you will have to pay extra for this as the route is an intercity one and not part of the regional route network covered by the pass. However, once in Portimao, you can again use your CP pass to travel up and down the region, including to the airport in Faro.

Don’t expect the pass to offer access to the swiftest train; Porto to Lisbon will take less than three hours on the intercity train. With the national pass, you will be confined to regional trains, and so should expect trip times of closer to five hours.

You can claim a refund for any time portion of the pass you don’t use.

Cost: €88 four days/€128 for five-day pass (€64 for a child)

Eligibility: Adults/adults + children

Where to buy: Selected ticket offices including Dublin Heuston and Connolly; Cork, Limerick, Sligo and Waterford. The passes are not available online.

If you’d rather stay in Ireland this summer and travel around via rail, you also have some options – although they’re not as attractive as those available on the Continent.

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With a Trekker pass, for example, you’ll pay €88 for four days of consecutive travel – so travel from Dublin to Cork on a Monday for example, down to Killarney on a Tuesday, up to Limerick on a Wednesday and back to Dublin on the Thursday. Buying the pass would save you money – an adult open return ticket from Dublin to Cork is €71.20 for example. However, the timeframe is particularly tight.

A better option might be an Explorer ticket, which costs €128 for five days of travel – but this time you’ll get 15 days to do it all in.

Finally, if being confined to just one country doesn’t float your boat, why not consider an Inter Rail pass? Equally attractive for both the young and the young at heart, the pass now covers 33 European countries.

While it may not be as keenly priced as the one-country passes mentioned above, if used well, you can certainly cover plenty of ground at a low cost.

A second-class seven-day pass, for example (to be used for travel within a one-month timeframe), will cost €286 for someone aged between 12 and 27 (youthpass); €381 for an adult aged between 28 and 59; or €343 for someone aged 60 or over. You can upgrade to first class for an extra €93 per person.

Children aged 11 and under are free, and you can buy a pass online at interrail.eu .

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Traveling to Europe? Book one of these new train trips.

Europe is in the midst of a great rail revival. An increased awareness of environmental issues , the many hassles of air travel and the mental effort required to drive long distances are all reasons for people to get back onto trains. European passenger numbers are on the rise again, if not quite at pre-pandemic levels .

In response, operators across the continent are investing in new services, tracks and special offers. And it’s only going to get better: Dozens of projects are in motion from the Baltic states to Portugal, with the European Union aiming to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and supporting “10 pilot projects to establish new rail services or improve existing ones” right now .

My family’s summer will involve a train journey from Paris to Barcelona, down the Rhône valley and along the Mediterranean coast, but you don’t have to travel at 200 miles an hour to get the best out of Europe’s rail network.

From slow trains to high-speed bargains, there are plenty of options if you’re traveling in Europe in the next few months.

1. New sleepers from Belgium and Sweden

The sleeper train revival is picking up speed. They seemed to be on the way out in 2016, when the government of France, their last stronghold, decided to cut funding for a number of services. Happily, many of those have since been restored, and other countries around Europe — most notably Austria, under the brand name Nightjet — are investing heavily in night trains.

This summer sees the debut of a service between Brussels and Berlin, two key political centers, run by a new company called European Sleeper . Customers can leave Brussels at 7:22 p.m. (or Amsterdam at 10:34 p.m.) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and arrive in Berlin at 6:48 a.m. Return trips depart on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. There are three types of tickets, starting at $85: a seat, a bed in a six-berth compartment or a bed in a three-bed compartment.

Other night trains have also recently been introduced, such as Stockholm to Hamburg , which started in the fall, or Paris to Vienna , which began in 2021.

I’ve traveled on night trains from Paris to the south of France on a number of occasions. The experience is not luxurious, but it’s generally cheaper than the cost of a flight and a room — and the beds, while slim, are surprisingly comfortable. Be warned, though: The romance of trundling across Europe in the dead of night can make it hard to sleep.

2. German rail pass for $50 a month

Last summer Germany’s national rail company, Deutsche Bahn, offered monthly passes for the country’s huge network for under $10, a response to cost-of-living problems caused by a sharp rise in costs for electricity, food, heating and mobility. The success of that project has led to the introduction of the Deutschland-Ticket , which will cost around $50 a month and allow unlimited travel on all trains, buses and city subway services, with the exception of the most direct and speedy intercity services.

The possibilities are enticing. Beer lovers, for example, could travel from Düsseldorf to Cologne to Bamberg and onward to Munich, hopping off for distinctive local brews along the way. Those in search of scenery, meanwhile, might prefer the West Rhine Railway, stretching down the Rhine from Cologne in the north to Mainz.

One thing to remember: The Deutschland-Ticket is only available as a rolling, app-based subscription. British train expert Mark Smith, better known online as the Man in Seat 61, recommends canceling by the 10th of the month to avoid being charged for more than a month.

3. The first 100-mph locomotive, in the U.K.

Given locomotives are a British invention, the rail network in the United Kingdom can be a disappointment. Yes, it’ll get you where you need to go, eventually, but services are often late, and there’s only one high-speed line, used by Eurostar and domestic services, from London into the Kentish countryside. The current national debate over ongoing construction of HS2 (High Speed 2) offers a reason: NIMBY -ish attitudes tend to triumph over the greater good.

No wonder Britons are wont to retreat into the past for comfort. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the world’s first fully authenticated 100-mph passenger locomotive, the Flying Scotsman; as a result, a number of special excursions are planned. For those who can afford it, the Centenary Weekender looks like the most appealing trip, from London to York and then Edinburgh, followed by a jaunt up Scotland’s beautiful East Coast.

The Flying Scotsman may be unique, but Europe is full of historical interest. There’s another anniversary, too: The Wuppertal Schwebebahn , a remarkable suspension railway that continues to operate, was completed in 1903 . And then there’s the Beaux-Arts Canfranc Station, opened as the crossing point from Spain to France in 1928, which was revived as a hotel this year .

4. A $7 high-speed train in Spain

Budget services are increasingly common in Europe, but no one is moving so fast as Spain’s Avlo , which runs high-speed, low-cost trains between Madrid and Barcelona, with tickets starting around $7. The network is expanding: From the start of June , there’s a new route from the Spanish capital to Andalusia, taking in Cordoba, Seville and Malaga.

In France, there’s Ouigo , which provides high-speed and standard services from Paris to cities all around the country, including Bordeaux, Marseille and Strasbourg. The advantage of the standard service — which offers tickets starting around $11 — is that prices don’t change, so you can get a last-minute bargain. The U.K., too, has a low-cost service , from London to Edinburgh via Newcastle, although tickets are not always such good value.

5. New subway lines in Turkey and England

Few cities have seen such huge investment and rapid improvement in subway provision as Istanbul. Earlier this year, a line connecting Istanbul Airport to the city opened, while other new lines and extensions are entering service all the time. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a city that had virtually no underground transport until 1989.

It’s not the only capital to be investing in underground trains, though. The experience of visiting Copenhagen has been transformed by the 2019 opening of the City Circle Line . Since last summer, visitors arriving at London Heathrow can reach the city center, and much besides , far quicker courtesy of 2022’s Elizabeth Line.

Paris, meanwhile, is in the foothills of a significant expansion program, Grand Paris Express , which will provide new connections in the city’s long-neglected suburbs. You can expect to see those services start to come online next year, when Paris hosts the Olympics and when Metro Line 14 will be extended to Orly, Paris’s second-largest airport.