Train Guide Brussels for Exptas
The overland train system in the city, the Regional Express Net (REN) is generally quite good, usually offering service of at least one train an hour from the suburbs into Brussels. Generally speaking, distances in Belgium are not great so train trips from the Brussels suburbs to the centre of town can be just 20 minutes, giving people the option of living further from the downtown area. Tickets can be purchased online, from the station, on the train (a little more expensive), from news agents and can be used at anytime during the day. The overland trains, operated by NMBS/SNCB, are independent of the other forms of transport, requiring separate tickets at varying prices according to the distance being travelled.Tickets are a bit more expensive than the other forms of transport but for people commuting into the city there are options to have the expense subsidized. Depending upon your company, these subsidies can reduce the fare to free or almost nothing for the commuter, with payment made by the employer and the government covering the remainder http://www.b-rail.be/nat/E/tarifs/takeaseat/who/index.php. Make sure to enquire with your Human Resources department. Tickets can be purchased in English online and are sent to your email address and can also be printed for use http://buy.b-rail.be/eTicketing/ETicketOrdering/welcomePage.jsp;jsessionid=0a0222615872e5b43ffab39742519ccaa81a300abae1
There are express trains with limited stops as well as local and rush hour trains. Many trains are part of the country network as a whole and different tickets are available throughout the country including Funpasses to the seaside and the Ardennes. It may be necessary to connect with other forms of transport once in the city, eg the metro and for that a separate ticket will be needed. That said, however, you can often connect between stations in the city using overland trains and for that you use the original ticket purchased.
