Trains from Paris to Brussels

Departing from Paris Gare du Nord  

I arrived at the Eurostar terminal in Gare du Nord station around one hour before my train was due to leave, as the check-in closes 30 minutes before departure. If you’re a little early, don’t forget to check out at the historic facade of the building – it’s a real treat! I took a selfie and sent it to my sister to tell her that I had arrived safely at the station.  

Equipped with 32 tracks – including four that are underground – Paris Gare du Nord serves many of the main train companies operating in France, including TGV, Eurostar, Thalys, Intercités and TER trains. The North Station is the largest in Europe and there are plans to expand it even more by 2023.  

The Eurostar terminal is located on the first floor and is accessible near platform 17 or by lift near the main entrance.  

Eurostar check-in  

Once at the check-in, I went directly to the queue reserved for people with a European ePassport as the wait is generally shorter – if you have an identity card, you’ll have to go to the manual control counter.  

I started by scanning the barcode of my eticket on my phone to cross the access gates, then headed through to the French border control, then the British border control, and finally through baggage check area and a metal detector. It sounds like a lot but all this can be done in around 10 minutes if you’re not leaving around rush hour. If you’re going through security at a busier time, it can take around 30 minutes, so be sure to plan this time in when arriving at the station.  

With an ePassport, the border controls are done via Parafe locks (Rapid border crossing). You must put your passport open to the photo page on the reader at the gate, wait while reading, go through the first doors, place your feet on the landmarks by looking at the camera in front of you, and the second doors of the airlock will open.  

On the Eurostar train  

The seats are large and comfortable with a retractable table and magazine rack between the two front seats (or in some cases below the armrest), there’s a plug with an English socket and European socket. Each carriage has luggage racks at either end as well as space above the seats for storing smaller bags.  

If you’d like something to eat or drink during the journey, venture into the restaurant carriage or simply wait for the crew to pass by your seat with the snack trolley.  

Arriving into Brussels Midi 

Brussels Midi (South) station is the busiest of the three stations in Belgium. The station has a terminal dedicated to Eurostar trains, so once you arrive and step off the train, you just have to go along the platform and down the escalators to find yourself in the central station.  

The station has entrances on both sides leading to a large atrium on the ground floor under the docks, where you can find bars and cafes and a large departure sign. There are toilets that require a fee to use (€0.50). From the station, you can go directly to the metro – or you can also have a nice stroll to the city centre in about 20 minutes.  

Why choose a train from Paris to Brussels?  

It’s not always the case that flying is the best way to travel in Europe. I chose to travel by train from Paris to Brussels because:  

• It saves time – airports are usually located outside of cities, so when you take travel time to the airport, waiting time in the terminal and the delays flights often face into consideration, the total time can be a lot longer.  
• The stations are more central – often located in the heart of the city, getting to the train station is a much simpler journey than getting to the airport. 
• There’s more luggage allowance – on the train you can take much more luggage than you would when flying, as well as being able to take liquids on board. 
• It's eco-friendlier – travelling between Paris and Brussels by train generates less carbon dioxide than travelling by plane.  
• It’s easier to get up and stretch your legs – trains offer a lot more space to get up and walk around than planes, especially when there’s an onboard restaurant carriage!  

About Sophie

Sophie is one of our trusted writers. The information for this review was obtained first-hand and is based on her own travel experience.