The Belgian rail company NMBS will be providing additional rail service to and from the coastal resorts of West Flanders during the forthcoming weekend. A total of 7 additional services will run to and from Ostend and Blankenberge.
NMBS advises passengers to consult its online route planner before departure. In addition to listing departure and arrival times, the Route Planner also indicates how busy a particular service is expected to be.
Passengers are strongly advised to avoid taking the train during the busiest times of the day (in the morning for services to the coast and in the evening for services heading inland from the coast).
Unusually warm
The extra trains are being deployed as the Royal Meteorological Institute RMI has forecast fine sunny weather for at least some of the weekend. On Saturday it will be unusually warm for the time of year with temperatures reaching between 20°C on the High Fens and 25°C in Flanders.
On Sunday the fine weather will end. The skies will be cloudy and there is a chance of showers and even thunderstorms. Maximum temperatures will be reach between 19°C and 23°C on Sunday.
No lifeguards on the coast
Those going to the sea should be aware that from this week they will no longer allowed to swim in the sea. This is because lifeguards are no longer on duty. Swimming in the sea is forbidden in Belgium when there are no lifeguards are present. However, paddling is still allowed.