Comments on: Connection time at Bruxelles Midi

Question: Connection time at Bruxelles Midi

blue mustard — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:53:27 -0800

If I arrive at Bruxelles Midi on a train from Paris, how much time would I need to catch a train to Leuven? Is 10 minutes enough?

In particular, I'm considering a train scheduled to arrive at 7.47, and then there's a 7.57 departure to Leuven. Is this easy, impossible, or somewhere in between?

By: outlier

outlier — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:05:07 -0800

Dicey. Midi is a reasonably large station. You could easily spend 10 minutes (if not more) making you way from one platform to another. And if the arriving train is a couple of minutes late ... I'd recommend against it. I tend to be a bit cautious about these things, but I'd want 30 minutes for a connection.

By: reynaert

reynaert — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 05:05:52 -0800

Outlier is right, it could easily take 10 minutes to find the right platform if you're not familiar with the station. On the other hand, on weekdays there are four trains or so per hour to Leuven, so missing your connection shouldn't be a big problem. (You can search the timetables here.)

By: creeky

creeky — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 05:08:20 -0800

Noo, I'd say go for it. The Thalys platform is about a two-minute walk from the platforms for local trains. As long as there are no delays (and the Thalys isn't usually bad), 10 minutes is easily enough.

By: cabingirl

cabingirl — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 07:11:28 -0800

I would agree with creeky, that it's probably doable especially if you already know what platform you're departing from.

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 07:20:02 -0800

If you have no baggage, no problem. If you're loaded down and won't be able to get off the train without waiting for everyone else, no.

By: dhoe

dhoe — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 07:25:05 -0800

I got lost repeatedly at Bruxelles Midi. The platforms are not arranged in a very consistent order.

By: blue mustard

blue mustard — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 07:43:40 -0800

Thanks everyone for your responses. I'm on a tight schedule, so it's helpful to have some idea what to expect. I'll have no baggage and have bought a ticket online, so maybe I'll make it. And if not, reynaert is right, there's another train 12 minutes later.

By: spatula

spatula — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:14:48 -0800

It's doable, especially if you have no baggage.

By: ysabella

ysabella — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:10:29 -0800

That is close but it should be possible. And I love Leuven.

By: blue mustard

blue mustard — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:20:51 -0800

The result: the train to Leuven was just a few platforms away from the Paris train and I made it with a couple minutes to spare. Thanks again to all for your responses.