2. Trip to Bruges-08.07.18

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2018 > 48. Holiday in Brussels & Amsterdam-05-13.07.18 > 2. Trip to Bruges-08.07.18
A day trip on the train to Brugges. We were very impressed with Belgian Railways, trains were fast, clean and regular. They all seemed to to run to time too! Just remind me, are Belgian Railways state owned........?
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Images 1-19 of 19 displayed.

Concourse, Brussels Centraal station The concourse of Brussels Centraal station. It is a vast station that is the second busiest on the Belgium network. The station took some forty years to build as work was interrupted by two world wars and economic austerity. Its modernist styling was created by Victor Horta and latterly Maxime Brunfaut. Keywords: Concourse Brussels Centraal station
Steps to platforms, Brussels Centraal station Brussels Centraal station is built over several levels. The island platforms are two levels down and below that still is the metro. Despite that, it is a bright and airy station with some stunning modernism architecture as seen here. It underwent a complete refurbishment between 2004 and 2010 but, still capacity remains an issue. It was also the scene of an Islamic Terrorist attack in June 2017, thankfully it was unsuccessful with the perpetrator being shot dead by armed soldiers who were on-patrol. Keywords: Steps to platforms Brussels Centraal station
83377, 09.22 Hasselt-Blankenberge (EXT 18332), Brugges station Unfortunately, taken directly into the sun but as it was the train we travelled on I have included it. 83377 waits at Brugge station working the 09.22 Hasselt-Blankenberge (EXT 18332). We travelled on this unit from Brussels Centraal and a very comfortable ride it was too. Despite these class AM83s being some 35 years old they are reliable and fast units with many remaining in front-line service with the earliest examples introduced in 1980. Keywords: 83377 09.22 Hasselt-Blankenberge EXT 18332 Brugges station
Frontage, Bruges station This station building at Brugge was opened in 1939. It's a busy and impressive station that has gone through a vast expansion and refurbishment in recent years to accommodate the huge numbers who use it in order to visit the nearby medieval town (as we did!). Notice the corporate image logo of Belgian Railways at the top of the building. This classic logo that is seen all over the railway network, was designed in 1936 by Henry van de Velde and has remained exactly the same even since.
8033 & 8091, ECS from depot, Brugges station An ECS move from Bruges Depot runs into the station. It is formed of a pair of Siemens Desiro units classified as MLs on the Belgian network, 8033 and 8091 are the two units here that were introduced sometime in 2014, but, not without their problems. There was a huge row between Belgian Railways and Siemens due to horrendous reliability issues. Keywords: 8033 8091 Brugges station
83423, 13.13 Brussesl Airport-Ootsende (IC 2336), Brugges station Two AM83s come into Brugges station working the 13.13 Brussels Airport to Oostende.This service is linking these two major transport hubs and despite being an EMU this AM83 is more than up to to the job. Plenty of capacity, air conditioned and comfortable. Not at all bad for a train built in the early 1980s! Keywords: 83423 13.13 Brussesl Airport-Oosende IC 2336 Brugges station
1859 & 1834, 15.42 Oostende-Eupen (IC 515), Brugges station Class 18 number 1859 arrives into Brugges station hauling the 15.42 Oostende to Eupen IC 515 working. Out of sight on the rear was 1834. We took this train back from Brugges to Brussels. My wife and son alighted at Centraal station but I continued on to Nord for a bit of spotting. The 'proper' coaches were uncannily quiet and very refined. I am so glad that large parts of Europe are continuing with loco. hauled stock unlike the UK, but things may just be starting to change here too? Keywords: 1859 1834 15.42 Oostende-Eupen IC 515 Brugges station
1834, 15.42 Oostende-Eupen (IC 515), Brussels Nord station 1834 brings up the rear of the 15.42 Oostende to Eupon IC 515 service as it leaves Brussels Nord station. I had traveled on this train from Brugges and a very good journey it was too. I am absolutely convinced that you can never beat travelling in 'proper' coaches and that it has to be the way to go in the future once the various costings have been evaluated and accounted for. Keywords: 183415.42 Oostende-Eupen IC 515 Brussels Nord station
96 568, 16.15 Lokeren-Gent Sint Pieters (IC 2238), Brussels Nord station IC class 96 number 568 waits to leave Brussels Nord station working the 16.15 from Lokeren to Gent Sint Pieters. These IC96s are a familiar site all over Europe in various liveries. The giant rubber end is designed to cushion them when joining and working in multiple. Not the most attractive of designs but they do the job that's asked of them! Keywords: 96 568 16.15 Lokeren-Gent Saint Pieters IC 2238 Brussels Nord station
08 557, 17.03 Brussels Midi-Dinant (IC 2517), Brussels Nord station SNCB class 08 Siemens Desiro EMU number 08557 and a stablemate arrives into Brussels Nord station with the 17.03 Brussels Midi to Dinnant. Dinnat is about sixty miles south of Brussels and is a stunning riverside medieval town with a dramatic cliff backdrop. As a child I went there with my family and well remember trying to bite on one their lovely looking couque de Dinant biscuits only to find it was doing its best to break my teeth; their accolade is that they are Europe's hardest biscuit! Keywords: 08 557 17.03 Brussels Midi-Dinant IC 2517 Brussels Nord station
1357, 14.10 Luxembourg-Bruxelles Midi (IC 2137), Brussels Nord station These class 13 electrics were introduced in 1998 to operate on the trans-European corridor from the North Sea ports. They are operated in a shared pool with Luxembourg Railways. Here 1357 arrives into Brussels Nord station with the 14.10 Luxembourg to Brussels Midi IC 2137 working. Keywords: 1357 14.10 Luxembourg-Bruxelles Midi IC 2137 Brussels Nord station
406004, 14.29 Frankfurt Main-Brussels Midi (ICE 14), Brussels Nord station These DB operated class 406 ICE3 units look absolutely fabulous! I have not travelled on one so cannot comment further but suffice to say most reports I have read are positive. One unique feature is that there is a glass divide behind the driver's cab so a full view is afforded if you are lucky enough to have the very front or rear seats! This is very similar to the first generation DMUs in the UK, but there, the similarities end! 406004 passes through Brussels Nord nearing the end of its journey, the 14.29 from Frankfurt Main to Brussels Midi. Keywords: 406004, 14.29 Frankfurt Main-Brussels Midi (ICE 14), Brussels Nord station
96 515, 17.33 Brussels Midi-Luxembourg (IC 2117), Brussels Nord station The 17.33 Brussels Midi to Luxembourg IC 2117 service is formed by AM96 515. With the financial district of Brussels in the background the train is seen entering Brussels Nord station. On a Sunday afternoon, Nord station was fairly quiet and I was able to wander around with nobody eyeing me suspiciously, even the armed security staff on patrol! There were no barriers at Nord station or any others that I saw on the Belgium network; how refreshing! Keywords: 96 515 17.33 Brussels Midi-Luxembourg IC 2117 Brussels Nord station
1872, 16.17 Eupen-Oostende (IC 539), Brussels Nord station Built by Siemens and referred to as EuroSprinters, these Bo-Bo electrics were delivered at the start of 2009 but due to problems they did not enter squadron service until 2011. Here, 1872 pauses at Brussels Midi station with the IC 539 16.17 Eupen to Oostende working. Keywords: 1872 16.17 Eupen-Oostende IC 539 Brussels Nord station
186 197, 17.45 Brussels Midi-Amsterdam Central (IC 9529), Brussels Nord station SNCB 186 197 drifts into Brussels Nord station having just set out leading the IC 9529 17.45 Brussels Midi to Amsterdam Central. Notice the uniform rake of Dutch Railways coaching stock. I think that this colour combination looks very smart. Keywords: 186 197 17.45 Brussels Midi-Amsterdam Central IC 9529 Brussels Nord station
186 004, 17.45 Brussels Midi-Amsterdam Central (IC 9529), Brussels Nord station Many northern European trains composed of 'normal' coaching stock, like this one here, are run in top and tail fashion. Nederlandse Spoorwegen's (Tr. Dutch Railways) 186 004 brings up the rear of the 17.45 Brussels Midi to Amsterdam Central at Brussels Nord station. Keywords: 186 004 17.45 Brussels Midi-Amsterdam Central IC 9529 Brussels Nord station
Frontage, Brussels Nord station The impressive clock tower rises above the frontage of Brussels Nord station. This station was opened in 1952 at the same time that the grand project to link the two sides of the city by rail was constructed. This scheme, referred to as the 'North–South Connection' involved a massive tunnelling scheme that went right under the city centre. Keywords: Frontage Brussels Nord station
7960, service 51 Stade-Van Haelen, junction of Rue-de-la Fortd Houthuist & Negende Linielaan, Brussels The tram network, as in many European cities, is comprehensive and well patronised. Here, tram 7960 works service 51 from Stade to Van Haelen rounds a sharp curve to make its way along the side of the Brussels Canal close to the city centre.
Tickets, Brussles-Brugges-Brussels Belgian Railway's tickets for our journey from Brussels Centraal to Brugges and back. €47 (at the time of writing, about £41) was a bit expensive for three of us but I suspect that we did not do it the cheapest way. However, the trains were comfortable, cool, had wifi and were on-time!

Images 1-19 of 19 displayed.