Belgian rail operator SNCB and its French counterpart SNCF are planning to launch a new train route between Brussels and Paris, La Libre reports.
According to a proposal issued by the French Transport Regulatory Authority (ART), five round trips between Brussels and Paris will run every day with the journey between cities taking approximately three hours.
ART further indicated that the route will terminate at the historic Gare du Nord in Paris, after passing through Creil and Aulnoye-Aimeries in northern France, as well as Mons, Brussels Midi, Brussels Central, and Brussels North stations. The project should be ready by 15 December 2024.
"A study is underway to confirm the feasibility of the project, with the objective of commissioning it as soon as possible," said SNBC spokesperson Marianne Hiernaux. "The timetables and any intermediate stops have also yet to be confirmed; the ambition is to allow as many passengers as possible to make this international journey and for a competitive price."
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In a statement, the SNBC added that the new route will provide "an alternative to road transport, with an intermediate travel time between the road and the high-speed train".
France's and Belgium's capitals are currently connected by the high-speed Thalys train, which takes just under one-and-a-half hours. Driving from Brussels to Paris usually takes between four and five hours.
The first ever train ride between Brussels and Paris took place in 1846. The journey took 21 hours.
