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| Belgium
Getting Around - Internal Travel |
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Air
As Belgium is such a small country, there are no internal flights.
Bus services operate between Brussels airport to Antwerp, Ghent
and Liège.
Rail
SNCB
operates a dense railway network with regular trains on
most lines. On the main lines there are more frequent trains. For
more information contact SNCB.
Fares
First and second class, single and return tickets are available.
However, a return ticket is double the single fare and is only valid
on the day of issue. Children from 6 to 11 years pay half the adult
price.
Discount travel
Weekend return fares are available from Friday after 1900 hrs, to
Sunday for the outward journey and on Saturday and Sunday for the
return journey, on long holiday weekends, these periods are extended.
A 50 per cent reduction card, valid for 1 month, is for sale. It
entitles the holder to buy an unlimited number of half-price single
tickets.
Go Pass offers 10 second-class
trips for persons aged under 26 years and Multi Pass
(valid for 1 day) offers one return trip between any 2 stations
for a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 5. The Rail Pass
offers 2 people 10 single trips within 1 year. The Golden
Rail Pass offers 6 first class single journeys, between
any 2 stations, to people aged 60 and over. Enquire at Rail
Europe (telephone number: (08705) 848 848) for further
information. For information on timetables, routes and special passes
contact Belgian National
Railways (telephone number: (020) 7593 2332, fax number: (020)
7593 2333, e-mail: belrail@aol.com).
Runabout tickets
The Five-day B-Tourrail ticket permits 5 days of
unlimited travel within a period of 30 days on Belgian Rail. Principal
stations in Belgium (and throughout Europe) are able to issue single
and return tickets valid from the border to principal foreign stations
(with a Tourrail ticket). For details of Benelux Tourrail
tickets, see the Travel – International section.
The Euro Domino pass permits unlimited travel in
any 1 European country for a period of 3 to 8 days in any calendar
month.
Road
There are many different brands of petrol, and prices vary. The
traffic drives on the right. Towns are connected
by toll-free motorways. It is compulsory for seat belts to be worn
in both the front and back of vehicles and children under 12 are
not permitted to travel in the front seat of a car. A warning
triangle must be displayed at the scene of a breakdown
or accident and it is compulsory to carry a fire extinguisher or
first aid kit in all vehicles.
The speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways is 120kph
(75mph) with a minimum speed of 70kph (45 mph),
on single carriageways outside built-up areas is 90kph (55mph),
and in built-up areas is 50kph (31mph).
Trams always have priority on roads.
Bus
Regional bus services are operated by the bus companies which publish
regional timetables.
Taxi
Available in all towns and the tip is included in the final meter
price. If there are no taxi stands, taxi companies can be telephoned
for an extra charge of about €2.5.
Car hire
Self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available. The minimum
age is 23 and the person must possess a valid full licence with
at least 1 year of validity (and which will be required upon collection
of the car).
Documentation
A national driving licence is required. EU nationals
taking their own cars to Belgium must obtain a Green Card.
The Green Card tops insurance cover up to the level
of cover provided by the car owner’s domestic policy.
Urban Transport
There is a good public transport system in all the major towns and
cities, with underground, tram and bus services in Antwerp
and Brussels, bus and tramways in Charleroi,
Ghent and Ostend and bus systems
elsewhere. There is a standard flat-fare system, with discounts
for 5 and 10 journey multi-ride tickets.
1-day tickets and multi-mode tourist travelcards
are also available.
The following chart gives approximate travel times from Brussels
(in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Belgium
and neighbouring countries. |
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Air |
Road |
Rail |
Paris |
0.50 |
- |
1.20 |
Amsterdam |
0.40 |
- |
3.00 |
Rome |
2.00 |
- |
20.00 |
Cologne |
- |
- |
3.00 |
London |
0.30 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
Arlon |
- |
3.00 |
2.20 |
Antwerp |
- |
0.40 |
0.41 |
Bruges |
- |
1.00 |
0.53 |
Ghent |
- |
0.50 |
0.28 |
Liège |
- |
1.10 |
1.22 |
Ostend |
- |
1.20 |
1.10 |
Namur |
- |
1.00 |
1.56 |
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