One travel company is looking to increase the number of trains between airports, specifically Brussels Airport and Schiphol, with a new service which will promote the idea that "holidays start on the train."
Almost two years ago, Belgium introduced a "boarding tax" for short-haul flights to deter people from opting to fly for distances that can be covered by alternative means of transport to tackle the pollution it causes.
However, it highlighted a need for more connections between Brussels Airport and surrounding large international airports such as Schiphol near Amsterdam and Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
While trains to and from Brussels are already in place, the need for a high-speed train connection at Brussels Airport to offer transfer passengers from neighbouring countries has repeatedly been underlined.
A feasibility study is currently underway on the possibility of a high-speed train stopping at the airport train station in Zaventem, but Dutch travel company Corendon has now also expressed interest in stopping at Belgium's largest airport.
From Belgium to Schiphol to Curaçao
The company's founder Atilay Uslu said in an interview with the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that the company wants to use its own train service to transport passengers between the airport in Zaventem and the major Dutch airport Schiphol.
"We want to be able to bring passengers from Belgium to Schiphol for our flights from Amsterdam to Curaçao," Uslu explained.
However, his plans for the train go above and beyond. He said the vehicle should be in the Corendon colours (yellow and red) and with a carriage where passengers can even enjoy cocktails. "The idea is that the holiday starts on the train," he said. Once that route is realised, he also wants a connection to Düsseldorf, however, how and when the proposed service will be implemented remains unclear.
This show of intentions follows the publication of a recent pamphlet from the airline industry advocating for more short-haul international trains. That pamphlet was supported by several organisations, companies and universities, including Corendon.
But it is not the only travel company in the Netherlands that wants to put more effort into train transport. TUI, for instance, already no longer offers air travel to Paris. The company is also working with GreenCityTrip, which offers rides on night trains.
