Brussels Airport will be reachable from the German city of Cologne via a new direct high-speed rail connection starting September 7, German rail operator Deutsche Bahn announced on Thursday.
The trains are set to run twice daily, with a journey time of around two hours. The service will continue to its final stop in the Belgian city of Antwerp.
Deutsche Bahn said its latest model of its high-speed ICE trains will be deployed on the route, with the morning service scheduled to arrive at Brussels Airport at 8:29 am. Along the way, trains will stop in Aachen, Liège and Leuven.
The news comes two months after German rail operator Flixtrain announced plans to put another 65 new long-distance trains into service from 2028, in a step that travellers may hope will provide better options in Europe’s largest country.
Flixtrain, one of the brands belonging to the Munich-based travel platform Flix, is primarily known for its green long-distance motorway coaches.
It is one of the few competitors to state-owned Deutsche Bahn in long-distance transport. Rail service Deutsche Bahn currently holds a market share of around 95%.
Germany has been investing in restoring its ailing rail infrastructure in recent months. Contrary to stereotypes, Deutsche Bahn trains are not always punctual. Trains are often delayed or cancelled. If you miss a connecting train, your seat reservation is no longer valid and the following train is likely to be crowded.