Travel to Luxembourg

[cuccir]

Was wondering if anyone had any tips on getting the train to Luxembourg from Durham? I've checked Man in Seat 61 and it seems my best options are either:

Travel Durham - London - Brussles - Luxembourg. Buy a ticket with Eurostar Durham - Any Belgian Station, and then get a separate ticket from the last Belgian station (Arlon) to Luxembourg

Travel Durham - London - Paris - Luxembourg. Get a ticket Durham - London, and then London-Luxembourg booked via sncf.com

Any comments on these routes? Which is more comfortable/quickest? I'm booking then reclaiming via work, so cost is less of an issue. Is there any advantage to booking with Loco2? Do I get a through ticket or are they just selling me tickets that I can buy elsewhere?

I am able to claim for first class travel if I want. What are the advantages of first class travel on Eurostar and TGV/Belgian rail?

 

[Quakkerillo]

Trains from Paris to Luxembourg depart seven times per day, from Paris Est, which is a short walk from Paris Nord. They're all TGV, and depart at 7.40, 8.40, then a gap to 13.40, 15.40, 16.40, 18.40, 19.40. Takes 2h08, with only 2 intermediate stops.
Trains from Brussels to Luxembourg run every hour, with even 2 trains per hour during rush hour. These are normal double-decker Intercity trains, that call at 13 stations en-route, and take 3h03-3h17.

So if you were to arrive at Brussels/Paris between 08:40 and 13:40, I'd say go via Brussels, and via Paris for the other times.

For comfort: Via Paris is much more comfort. I don't know Paris-Est, but I know that TGV trains go much faster and much more comfortable, with higher service. Belgian Intercity trains can be quite noisy, and with the 13 stops, you get more scenery, but less swift travel.

First class in Belgium is just a better padding on your seat. Not worth it really, unless you travel during full rush hour. Eurostar gives you free newspapers, and food at your seat. TGV probably offers the same service. 2nd Class on Eurostar/TGV is just a nice seat.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Aren't there also a couple of loco-hauled workings on the Brussels-Lux route as well? Certainly was in May this year when I went, the through EC services to Basel.
Trains EC90/91 and EC96/97 from a quick google.

 

[Quakkerillo]

Aren't there also a couple of loco-hauled workings on the Brussels-Lux route as well? Certainly was in May this year when I went, the through EC services to Basel.
Trains EC90/91 and EC96/97 from a quick google.

These are twice per day only, and their comfort is a little higher, their stopping pattern however the same. Prices and on-board service are the same as well.

 

[30907]

First on TGV is just extra space, no freebies. I'd still use it!

Worth going that way for the Duplex and LGV Est if you've not been, but it's not exciting scenery whereas the Brussels route takes you through the Ardennes, which is a nice area. I'd go out one way and back the other.

Loco2 link to all the booking engines so you do it all as one transaction but with separate tickets. The price is the same, and they seem to offer more options than the Eurostar site, but for this journey it's marginal. Check if you can to book Luxembourg via Paris on the Eurostar site too and compare.

 

[cuccir]

Thanks folk. Out one way back the other might work nicely, I'll see of the loco-hauled timings fit too.

 

[30907]

Thanks folk. Out one way back the other might work nicely, I'll see of the loco-hauled timings fit too.

They were formed of standard SBB international stock (opens) a couple of years ago, but you might get an odd SNCB compartment vehicle strengthening.

 

[eastwestdivide]

They were formed of standard SBB international stock (opens) a couple of years ago, but you might get an odd SNCB compartment vehicle strengthening.

They may have gone over to SNCB coaches (compartments and opens**, comfy enough, but not as good as the SBB ones) - I had SNCB coaches earlier this year, although I didn't see all of the train, and the section I was in only went Brussels-Luxembourg, as the guard had to move people down the train who were travelling S of Lux.

Photos here:
http://www.rail.lu/events/vauban.html
and here:
http://www.rail.lu/events/iris.html
where the top caption says "Locomotive SNCF 26164 avec le 97 qui comportait une dernière fois 9 voitures SBB" = "which had 9 SBB coaches for the last time". Photo dated 14.12.2013.

**my trip report with photos here: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2190778&postcount=1

 

[317666]

On visits to Belgium over the last couple of years I've only ever seen NMBS coaches in the train. It's also worth bearing in mind that 5-6 of the normal Luxembourg ICs are also loco-hauled, using air-conditioned double-deck stock. Failing that though, the AM96 EMUs are still very pleasant to travel on.

 

[Techniquest]

As already mentioned the AM96s are very pleasant to travel on, you certainly won't have a bad journey in Standard class. This applies across Belgium and even in the Netherlands.

From memory the Brussels to Basel trains are not cheap to book onto, and I severely doubt the times will work out without an overnight stop in Brussels for you. The advantage here though is getting an SNCB Class 13 loco in Luxembourg!

The slower way is via Liege Guillemins. Yes it's only a 2 hourly route, yes it takes a while. However in winter when the snow's been down the scenery is stunning. It probably is anyway, but I did it in the above conditions and fell in love with the route! CFL Class 3000 locos ran the route last time I looked, and the coaching stock was pleasant for a Standard Class journey and rather comfortable.

Never done the TGV route so can't comment there. Luxembourg gave me the impression of a nice city to explore, but this was not an option for me at the time.

Be warned if you go track bashing while over there, one branch to the west of the city is exclusively peak time only, which I only found out when I went to do it!

 

[33056]

Don't know when you are planning to travel but this dropped into my in-box the other day:

It has been announced that the following International trains will be axed from 3 April 2016 due to the opening of the new LGV Est Europeene extension to Strasbourg:

EC91 0733 Brussels Midi-Basel
EC97 1233 Brussels Midi-Basel
EC90 1312 Basel-Brussels Midi
EC96 1619 Basel-Brussels Midi

The only locohauled International trains from Brussels will be the IC services to Amsterdam.

 

[Quakkerillo]

The only locohauled International trains from Brussels will be the IC services to Amsterdam.

Plus still the Brussels-Luxembourg services. These can be EMU, or loco-hauled double-deck sets.

 

[87015]

Plus still the Brussels-Luxembourg services. These can be EMU, or loco-hauled double-deck sets.

Maybe, but I would not be surprised to see this as the excuse for the long wanted return of all 13s to Cargo. They have plenty of stock to play with to cascade any required extra units, or knowing that part of the world these days, reduce some through services to an Arlon shuttle & change until the 18s eventually end up cleared into Lux (maybe)...

 

[cuccir]

Hello all,

Thanks for the advice. I held off buying following some of the security issues over the last few months, but am looking to purchase this week.

I'm keen on working in a short stop (~3 hours) in Paris on the way back, but I can't seem to find a way to get SNCF to offer an extended transfer time. Does anyone know if that's possible?

If it's not, I'll probably book Durham-Paris and Paris-Luxembourg separately (it's not possible to book a through ticket anyway) - does anyone know what my situation is if Eurostar delays stopped me getting my train to Luxembourg on a split ticket?

 

[30907]

Loco2.com offers the option, but provided you use the same provider in one transaction for both tickets you should be covered by basic CIV rules. It's a bit of a grey area if you don't.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Don't know when you are planning to travel but this dropped into my in-box the other day:

It has been announced that the following International trains will be axed from 3 April 2016 due to the opening of the new LGV Est Europeene extension to Strasbourg:

EC91 0733 Brussels Midi-Basel
EC97 1233 Brussels Midi-Basel
EC90 1312 Basel-Brussels Midi
EC96 1619 Basel-Brussels Midi

The only locohauled International trains from Brussels will be the IC services to Amsterdam.

That's a shame, I have used those services in the past, sorry they are stopping. I think they were / are, named trains still, "Iris" & "Vauban" using a mix of Belgian and Swiss Rolling stock.?


By the way, I saw in a post above about Eurostar to any Belgian Station, I was told that it was only to Brussels Zone now and not for the whole country.

 

[Hophead]

Any Belgian station is a small supplement over Brussels - according to the website, £5.50 or so each way.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Any Belgian station is a small supplement over Brussels - according to the website, £5.50 or so each way.

Thank you for that tip, I shall let my friend know.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Don't know when you are planning to travel but this dropped into my in-box the other day:

It has been announced that the following International trains will be axed from 3 April 2016 due to the opening of the new LGV Est Europeene extension to Strasbourg:

EC91 0733 Brussels Midi-Basel
EC97 1233 Brussels Midi-Basel
EC90 1312 Basel-Brussels Midi
EC96 1619 Basel-Brussels Midi

The only locohauled International trains from Brussels will be the IC services to Amsterdam.

I was wondering if infact, the above EC Trains mentioned may continue for a while longer, as I heard that the LGV New Est line may be delayed in it's opening owing to an accident on a test train a few months ago?

 

[Quakkerillo]

The trains will be replaced by:
TGV 9870, Bruxelles Midi/Brussel-Zuid 7:17 - Strasbourg 10:49 via Lille, CDG, Champagne-en-Ardenne, and Lorraine. TGV 9874 at 12:17, but arrives 12 minutes later at Strasbourg.
02/04-06/04 won't see any trains from Brussels to Luxembourg, probably due to engineering works.

 

[davetheguard]

Thanks folk. Out one way back the other might work nicely, I'll see of the loco-hauled timings fit too.

If you're doing this, I'd suggest out via Brussels and back via Paris rather than the other way round, if the timings work out O.K.

The main reason is that you'll avoid the pretty dismal Eurostar "terminal" at Brussels Midi, and more importantly all the UK Border Force hassle because of the "Lille Loophole".

Last time we returned via Brussels a couple of years ago we showed our passports to British passport control at the Brussels end, and then all 700 odd of us had to queue up at St. Pancras to show it to them again. You can imagine how long that took!

As a result we now avoid returning via the Brussels route if at all possible - so far successfully.

 

[Quakkerillo]

If you're doing this, I'd suggest out via Brussels and back via Paris rather than the other way round, if the timings work out O.K.

The main reason is that you'll avoid the pretty dismal Eurostar "terminal" at Brussels Midi, and more importantly all the UK Border Force hassle because of the "Lille Loophole".

Last time we returned via Brussels a couple of years ago we showed our passports to British passport control at the Brussels end, and then all 700 odd of us had to queue up at St. Pancras to show it to them again. You can imagine how long that took!

As a result we now avoid returning via the Brussels route if at all possible - so far successfully.

Those checks at St Pancras happened earlier when people went the 'Lille route'. Buy a ticket Paris/Brussels - Lille, but stay on until London. Those people don't get any passport/luggage check, but nobody checked if they stayed on either. So they sometimes randomly checked at St Pancras to pick out the people who did that.

Nowadays, people with such tickets are allocated to a special carriage, put there by Eurostar personnel, and the carriage will be locked, so they can't get elsewhere in the train. In Lille, the carriage is cleared, and then passengers Lille/Calais - London can board it.

Had nothing to do with what happened in Brussels.

 

[175mph]

It's funny the OP of this thread should start this thread as I am planning an almost identical journey, except from Scunthorpe, then changing trains at Doncaster to proceed down to London.

Thank you to all the contributors of this thread so far as I find the information extremely valuable.