Antwerp, Leuven and Brussels Airport are now directly connected to Germany via a new ICE high-speed train service. The first train arrived at Antwerp Central this morning, following stops at Brussels Airport and Leuven. The trains will now run twice a day in both directions between Antwerp and Cologne.
Home News
New high-speed train service links Antwerp, Brussels Airport and Leuven with Cologne
Colin Clapson
Published:
The first ICE train was given a warm welcome at the three Belgian stations on Monday morning. The train arrived at its final destination, Antwerp Central, at around 9.30 am, half an hour behind schedule. The ICE trains operated by the German railway company Deutsche Bahn can accommodate over 400 passengers.
Route and timetables: In Germany, the trains depart from Cologne, with a stop in Aachen. In Belgium, they stop at Liège, Leuven, Brussels Airport and Antwerp. Passengers travelling from Antwerp can reach Cologne by ICE in approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. From Brussels Airport, the journey takes less than 2 hours; from Leuven, approximately one and a half hours. The trains arrive in Cologne at around 1.30 pm and 9.30 pm.
Tickets for journeys between Antwerp and Cologne are available from 29.99 euros. For Leuven and Antwerp, this is the first permanent direct high-speed rail link to Germany. Brussels Airport is once again connected to the high-speed network for the first time since 2015. Passengers travelling with Belgian flag carrier Brussels Airlines can combine train and flight on a single ticket.
Partnership with Belgian Rail NMBS
Deutsche Bahn is partnering with Belgium’s state-owned rail company NMBS to realise this ICE service. The NMBS will operate half the services. The Cologne–Antwerp route is the second ICE service between Belgium and Germany. Eight ICE train services already run daily between Germany (Frankfurt, Cologne, Aachen) and Belgium, stopping in Liège, and terminating at Brussels South.
Eurostar high-speed trains also run between Belgium and Germany.