The most striking novelty is the new, fast IC connection between Hasselt and Antwerp-Central (via Diest, Heist-op-den-Berg, Lier and Antwerp-Berchem) on weekdays, which has long been requested. “Thanks to this connection, train passengers can travel faster throughout the day between Antwerp, Hasselt and the stations in between,” says the NMBS. “Between Antwerp and Hasselt, the travel time will be approximately one hour.”
Furthermore, on weekdays there will be direct connections from Landen and Zottegem with the European district in Brussels. Landen will receive this direct line thanks to the extension of the S9 train Braine-l’Alleud – Brussels-Schuman – Leuven. That train will also stop in Vertrijk, Tienen, Neerwinden and Ezemaal.
As for Zottegem, the S8 train Louvain-la-Neuve – Brussels-South, passing through the European quarter in Brussels, will run on weekdays to the East Flemish city (with also stops in Denderleeuw, Welle, Haaltert, Ede , Burst, Terhagen, Herzele and Hillegem). The train will also stop at Anderlecht station en route. That station, which was inaugurated at the end of 2020, will receive a second S connection per hour on weekdays.
From now on every hour
In addition, there are extra early and/or late trains at various places. This is the case on weekdays, for example, between Ghent-Sint-Pieters and Dendermonde, Ghent-Sint-Pieters and Aalst, and from Kortrijk and Ghent-Sint-Pieters to Brussels and back. On Saturdays there is an extra early train from De Panne to Lichtervelde and Gent-Sint-Pieters, and in the evening in the opposite direction. And there will be extra late trains between Ostend and Kortrijk during the weekend.
Another novelty: the IC train from Antwerp to Brussels Airport and Leuven/Hasselt will from now on run every hour between Leuven and Hasselt on Sundays and public holidays.
Due to works at Denderleeuw station, the S6 train Aalst – Halle – Brussels – Schaerbeek will no longer run between Aalst and Denderleeuw. Travelers traveling between Aalst and Geraardsbergen have to change trains in Denderleeuw, says the NMBS. It is only possible to travel directly between Aalst and Geraardsbergen at certain times during peak hours.
Benelux train
As previously announced, the Benelux train no longer runs directly from Brussels to The Hague. Travelers with that destination have to change trains in Breda or Rotterdam. All Benelux trains from Brussels (with stops in Belgium also in Mechelen and Antwerp, among others) will henceforth run to Amsterdam Central. That will be sixteen a day in both directions.
The new timetable is part of the NMBS’s 2020-2023 transport plan. This provides for an expansion of the offer by almost 5 percent between December 2020 and the end of 2023. That would correspond to a thousand extra trains per week, the NMBS said earlier.
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