Brussels Eurostar-ICE connection time

[mugam4]

I am to be attempting the 20-minute connection at Brussels 10:05-10:25 next month, with baggage, from carriage 7 of the Eurostar. I assume the connections corridor will not be open. Does anyone have any recent experiences of making one of these short connections? I'd be confident but am concerned about queueing to exit the platform.

Frustratingly, as the Eurostar was booked with DB, neither company seems to be able to change the seats to be any further forward.

 

[Alfonso]

It used to be very easy to log in to eurostar "manage my booking" or similar, regardless of who sold the ticket, and select a different seat if one is available. If yiu haven't got heavy luggage and are reasonably mobile, and I guess you are if going for a 20 minute connection, then there's nothing to stop you walking forward through the train...it's not like a plane where you have to stay seated.

 

[stuu]

We were near the back of the Eurostar last year and made it easily, there wasn't any queueing off the platform. Although ours was a through train to Amsterdam so the terminal platforms might be different

 

[rvdborgt]

We were near the back of the Eurostar last year and made it easily, there wasn't any queueing off the platform. Although ours was a through train to Amsterdam so the terminal platforms might be different

That's very different. In that case, you don't need to go all the way to the front of the train or meander through gates and over narrow stairs.

 

[Ash Bridge]

We travelled London to Frankfurt last September with the similarly tight connection for the 16:05 arrival 16:23 departure, it was very busy and the short cuts and escalators/ lifts at Midi were out. We boarded the Frankfurt service with 2/3 minutes only to spare despite an on time arrival from St Pancras, if elderley or with young children I imagine there would be little chance of making it as the DB service departed right on the dot.

 

[mugam4]

This service arrives at a terminus platform and unfortunately we do have heavy luggage. Eurostar say they cannot edit the booking, as it is owned by DB.

 

[rvdborgt]

This service arrives at a terminus platform and unfortunately we do have heavy luggage. Eurostar say they cannot edit the booking, as it is owned by DB.

What kind of ticket do you have for the Eurostar part? Is it a ticket in Eurostar layout issued by DB? Is there a 6-character booking reference on it and if so, have you tried using that on Eurostar's "Manage my booking"?

 

[BahrainLad]

I would spend the time after departure from Lille moving leisurely down the train to the front.

 

[mugam4]

What kind of ticket do you have for the Eurostar part? Is it a ticket in Eurostar layout issued by DB? Is there a 6-character booking reference on it and if so, have you tried using that on Eurostar's "Manage my booking"?

Eurostar De Connect; yes; yes - that option is not there on the Eurostar website, unfortunately. Eurostar say it is removed as DB own the booking.

 

[Mike395]

The connecting corridor was open last time I arrived at Midi in late October - but from others' experiences it's still a bit hit and miss. That said; you should make the connection comfortably if your inbound Eurostar is on time.

 

[tony6499]

What would be the procedure if you missed the connection if the Eurostar is late ? I want to do the 1405 arrival onto the 1425 next month, but worried about the time

 

[rvdborgt]

The next train to Cologne is the 16:22 ICE. Reservations are optional so you can just board it if you have a flexible ticket or a pass.
If the next train to Cologne is a Eurostar, or if you have a train-specific ticket, then you need to go to the international booking office. Seat61 explains this, specifically also for Brussels.

 

[AbsoluteBlock]

I've never made that particular connection, but I have needed to make tight connections in the opposite direction after arriving at St. Pancras. As Alfonso says, you can walk up the train even if unable to amend your seat reservation - I've done this more than once (moving all the way from my second class seat through the first class section to the front of the train) and didn't get anything but a few bemused looks from other passengers; most didn't even notice. Furthermore, there are no at-seat ticket inspections on the Eurostar and the train is often half empty when I travel, so I personally wouldn't have any qualms with simply sitting in a different seat of the class I booked in, regardless of the seat reservation, and just standing for the remaining twenty minutes if someone gets on at Lille and wants the seat.

For tony6499, you are well-protected in the (disappointingly likely!) case that the Eurostar is late. As you are travelling with Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn, you have both the Agreement on Journey Continuation and the Hop On The Next Available Train scheme covering this situation. Just mention the Eurostar delay to the train manager or conductor and I'm sure you'll be fine; they are always very amenable in my experience.

 

[Thames99]

I was on a train last year and shortly after Lille an announcement was made suggesting that passengers for an ICE train walked towards the front to make sure of the connection at Bruxelles. Is the short cut permanently closed now? a few years ago it seemed to be randomly open and closed, but on the last few trips I've made it's never been open.

 

[Birkonian]

You could ask Customer Services at St. Pancras after passing through customs, if there are vacant seats near the front. Even if they can't change them officially, they will probably give you a heads up. I've found them very helpful.

 

[wellhouse]

Last month our late Eurostar arrival in Brussels meant we reached the platform just in time to see our booked ICE departing for Cologne.

The Eurostar information desk endorsed our reservations to.permit travel on any alternative service as long as we spoke with the train manager before departure. The next service was a Eurostar (formally Thalys) and the train manager was happy for us to board.

 

[rvdborgt]

The Eurostar information desk endorsed our reservations to.permit travel on any alternative service as long as we spoke with the train manager before departure.

That's new. I read many stories in the past that the Thalys desk fobbed people off or told them to buy a new ticket.

 

[gordonthemoron]

That's new. I read many stories in the past that the Thalys desk fobbed people off or told them to buy a new ticket.

I did that around 20 years ago. However, when booking with DB I’d advise to make the connecting time longer or to have a break in Brussels

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

The connecting passage is closed. I suppose it's a 'Brexit Benefit': everyone has to go past the Beligian customs officers now and they didn't want to have two inspection points.... Nevertheless, they don't seem to stop many people.

The planned connection is just about do-able but have a Plan B ready as well. Delays from London seem to happen about 25% of the time: last time, I was almost 20 minutes behind. Delays on DB are also 'quite common' so, if you are going further in Germany, always have back uip plans for all ICE/IC/EC connections....

 

[Roast Veg]

The connecting passage is closed. I suppose it's a 'Brexit Benefit': everyone has to go past the Beligian customs officers now and they didn't want to have two inspection points.... Nevertheless, they don't seem to stop many people.

If it is closed permanently then it is more likely due to a German security request than Brexit. The passage was open previously, and at Paris passengers still just walk off the platform.

 

[rvdborgt]

If it is closed permanently then it is more likely due to a German security request than Brexit. The passage was open previously, and at Paris passengers still just walk off the platform.

AFAIK the German don't believe in such measures in their own country, let alone that they'd be requesting them elsewhere.

 

[fandroid]

If you can't get moved forward on the Eurostar train, I guess you could still stash your heavy luggage on a rack near the front and move back to sit in your reserved seats. Then move up to rejoin your bags before arrival in Brussels.

 

[Seehof]

I would feel very uncomfortable if someone put a bag on a rack near me then disappeared.

 

[leshuttle]

The connecting passage is closed. I suppose it's a 'Brexit Benefit': everyone has to go past the Beligian customs officers now and they didn't want to have two inspection points.... Nevertheless, they don't seem to stop many people.

What do the customs officers do for Amsterdam bound Eurostars from London since they arrive on domestic platforms?

 

[Mike395]

What do the customs officers do for Amsterdam bound Eurostars from London since they arrive on domestic platforms?

Random checks with a Customs officer standing next to one or more roller shutter exit points; the number of which seems to vary drastically with often only one or two being covered. Essentially the same setup as at Lille.

 

[FormerBritInMe]

In our upcoming trip in November we have the opposite situation, transferring from an ICE from Cologne to Eurostar heading to London.
I notice that E* recommends arriving 90 minutes before departure for check in. (planning to travel Eurostar Plus)

If we came on ICE 316 from Cologne arriving at 11:35, that would be after the check in starts for the 12:56 departure of ES9123.
Thinking of instead taking the later ES9135 at 14:52 which would also allow more time in case the ICE is late.
However if things are on time it means a long layover at a station that is reported to not be ideal to hang about in.
Thoughts?

 

[tony6499]

In our upcoming trip in November we have the opposite situation, transferring from an ICE from Cologne to Eurostar heading to London.
I notice that E* recommends arriving 90 minutes before departure for check in. (planning to travel Eurostar Plus)

If we came on ICE 316 from Cologne arriving at 11:35, that would be after the check in starts for the 12:56 departure of ES9123.
Thinking of instead taking the later ES9135 at 14:52 which would also allow more time in case the ICE is late.
However if things are on time it means a long layover at a station that is reported to not be ideal to hang about in.
Thoughts?

I'm doing that connection next Friday, it gives it on the journey planner so I'm hoping it is ok ?

 

[Mike395]

1hr20 is more than enough time (the cutoff for check in is 30mins before, 90mins is overkill and I think the minimum connection time they use for through itineraries is around an hour) - and you’ll be protected in the case of the ICE being late.

 

[eastwestdivide]

However if things are on time it means a long layover at a station that is reported to not be ideal to hang about in.
Thoughts?

Hang around in one of the bistros beside the station (the side by the low numbered platforms)?

 

[rvdborgt]

1hr20 is more than enough time (the cutoff for check in is 30mins before, 90mins is overkill and I think the minimum connection time they use for through itineraries is around an hour) - and you’ll be protected in the case of the ICE being late.

The minimum connection time in Brussels to a Eurostar Brussels-London seems to be 42 minutes, except in cases where they've changed it for specific connections. I found one with 39 minutes, from an EC with origin Rotterdam. NS indeed offer tickets with this connection.
The DB planner mentions these minimum connection times.