Belgian rail and buses

[leshuttle]

Visiting Leuven and making a couple of day trips into central Brussels for Le Tour next month so looking at which tickets to buy and whether using the SNCB app for tickets is best. The Ibis hotel we've booked is a bit too far to walk from the main station for my relatives but there is a bus stop nearby.

If we buy train tickets from/to "Zone Leuven" does that include a single bus journey within the centre of Leuven?

 

[radamfi]

Visiting Leuven and making a couple of day trips into central Brussels for Le Tour next month so looking at which tickets to buy and whether using the SNCB app for tickets is best. The Ibis hotel we've booked is a bit too far to walk from the main station for my relatives but there is a bus stop nearby.

If we buy train tickets from/to "Zone Leuven" does that include a single bus journey within the centre of Leuven?

No, tickets to "zone" on Belgian Railways refer to the stations you are allowed to go to, similar to the concept of a ticket to "xxx stations" in British terms. For Leuven, that means you are allowed to go to Leuven or Heverlee.

https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/support/faq/faq-tickets-and-railcards/faq-validity-restrictions/

So you have to pay separately for the bus. De Lijn has a flat fare of 3.00 for a 60 minute ticket, valid on almost all buses and trams in their network across Flanders and Brussels, 7.00 for a day ticket bought in advance, or 9.00 for a day ticket bought on the bus.

There is a special offer of 7.00 for a day ticket combined with admission to Leuven Museum M if that is of interest:

https://www.delijn.be/en/vervoerbew...sen/Biljet-toeristische-uitstap/M-buspas.html

Tickets can be bought on the app for 1.80 single. Not sure if that works with a British phone.

https://www.delijn.be/en/vervoerbewijzen/ticket-op-gsm/?vertaling=true

You can get a text message ticket for 2.25 which does work with a UK number.

https://www.delijn.be/en/contact/faq-detail.html?v=19994

 

[radamfi]

I just installed the De Lijn app and I got as far as entering credit card details. You are able to change the phone number to a UK one. So it looks like it works.