Brussels engineering works

[TheSeeker]

My normal P train from Braine l'Alleud is diverted to Merode. Less convenient but as it was the first day I took it this morning. Terra Incognita for me, the east Brussels line is usually local trains only so it was fun to breeze through in a loco hauled express. Contrary to the "low countries" moniker Brussels is quite hilly, interesting viaducts and tunnels all along the route. They'd been handing out flyers all week warning of the disruption and an offer of a free Metro ticket was too hard to resist. An SNCB conductor standing by the STIB ticket machine handing them out once we could prove where we'd come from. Door to door it was only 10 minutes longer than my usual commute and much more interesting, or at least different. Conversely to say London the east is the rich part of Brussels and the west the poor. You can tell from the size of the houses and back gardens.

 

[MarcVD]

Those works will be an opportunity for unusual train observations. Thalys and Eurostar sets diverted to lines 94, 26, and 161, loco hauled trains on line 26, and also passenger trains on the bridge going over the Brussels Midi station approach (line 28/3). Make your digital cameras ready and charged!

 

[Jamesrob637]

My normal P train from Braine l'Alleud is diverted to Merode. Less convenient but as it was the first day I took it this morning. Terra Incognita for me, the east Brussels line is usually local trains only so it was fun to breeze through in a loco hauled express. Contrary to the "low countries" moniker Brussels is quite hilly, interesting viaducts and tunnels all along the route. They'd been handing out flyers all week warning of the disruption and an offer of a free Metro ticket was too hard to resist. An SNCB conductor standing by the STIB ticket machine handing them out once we could prove where we'd come from. Door to door it was only 10 minutes longer than my usual commute and much more interesting, or at least different. Conversely to say London the east is the rich part of Brussels and the west the poor. You can tell from the size of the houses and back gardens.

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South Brussels is generally wealthier than North. I lived in Ixelles and there was plenty of prosperity there, yet regions such as Schaerbeek seemed a little run-down. The line from Delta to Vilvoorde had no weekend passenger service back then either!

 

[Gadget88]

Only 5 trains running around 29th June and the following days is there more works on?

 

[Gadget88]

The website only seems to sell tickets for Brussels a few months ahead further ahead months show less trains which is strange as Paris doesn’t seem to be this way

 

[30907]

The website only seems to sell tickets for Brussels a few months ahead further ahead months show less trains which is strange as Paris doesn’t seem to be this way

The Amsterdam trains are missing outbound. ES doesnt release Brussels tickets for these so far ahead - seems to be a way of steering demand.
There seems to be one missing inbound - which should be the mid afternoon ex Amsterdam, about which there are suppsedly problems over border control staffing, so not bookable at all