SNCB

The SNCB (Société nationale des chemins de fer belges) or NMBS (Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen) is the Belgian national railway operator and the most important railway operator in Belgium.

Summary

SNCB accepts FIP free travel and FIP 50 tickets
No reservation required
Surcharge for trips to/from Brussels Zaventem Airport

Validity of FIP Tickets

FIP voucher: ✅
FIP voucher relatives: ✅
FIP 50 tickets: ✅

FIP vouchers and FIP 50 tickets are valid on SNCB connections. For cross-border trips, either a continuous FIP 50 ticket or FIP vouchers from both countries must be available.

Train Categories and Reservations

Within Belgium, no reservation is required for SNCB and in many trains, it is not possible. For the cross-border ICE to Germany, a reservation is possible and was mandatory in summer 2024 (only for cross-border journeys).

InterCity Express (ICE)

Description:
High-speed trains of Deutsche Bahn, operated by SNCB in Belgium. They run between Brussels (Midi) and Germany (Cologne / Frankfurt am Main), but can also be used with FIP tickets without surcharge within Belgium between Brussels Midi and Liège-Guillemins.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: no
Cost of reservation: 🟡 6.50 € (1st class) 5.20 € (2nd class)

InterCity (IC)

Description:
Unlike in other countries, these are not real long-distance trains, but rather fast regional trains with few stops.
Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no
Cost of reservation: -

Train local or Lokale trein (L)

Description:
Regional trains stopping at most stations, often simply referred to as “R” for regional train in connection information.
Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no
Cost of reservation: -

Train S or S-Trein (S)

Description:
A suburban train in the metropolitan areas of Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Ghent, or Liège. They connect the major cities with the suburbs and usually stop everywhere. Unlike in other countries, the S-trains here do not have denser schedules than other train categories. In the connection information, these are sometimes also summarized as “R” for regional train.
Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no
Cost of reservation: -

Train d’heure de pointe or Piekuurtrein (P)

Description:
Additional trains during peak hours from Monday to Friday mornings and late afternoons, often simply referred to as “R” for regional train in connection information.
Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no
Cost of reservation: -

Express (E/EXP/EXTRA)

Description:
Additional trains during high traffic periods, especially in the summer months to the Belgian coast.
Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no
Cost of reservation: -

Tourist (T)

Description:
Additional trains to certain tourist destinations, often simply referred to as “R” for regional train.
Reservation possible: no
Reservation required: no
Cost of reservation: -

Ticket and Reservation Purchase

Online

SNCB website for national connections:
Reservation: ⛔
FIP 50 tickets: ⛔
SNCB website for international connections:
Reservation: ✅
For international trains where a reservation is possible, it can be selected accordingly here.
FIP 50 tickets: ✅
For cross-border trains to and from Belgium, tickets with FIP 50 discount can be purchased here. Simply select the discount “50% discount Belgium (SNCB)” for travelers. Multiple discounts, such as a simultaneously available free travel pass for CFL (Luxembourg), can also be specified here.
International tickets with free travel: ✅
If a free travel pass for SNCB is available, it can also be applied to cross-border trains. For this, select the discount “Free travel pass Belgium (SNCB)” for travelers. This allows, for example, very cheap bookings for trains from Belgium to Lille in France (except for the TGV, which has a global price and is not operated by SNCB).
Other options:
Cross-border connections between Germany and Belgium can be purchased online by Deutsche Bahn employees through the DB Travel Market.

On-site

SNCB ticket counters:
SNCB operates ticket counters at many major stations (see belgetrain).
Reservation: ✅
FIP 50 tickets: ✅
Other options:
FIP 50 tickets and reservations can also be purchased at CFL, DB, and NS travel centers.

On the train

If no ticket counter is available or open, a ticket can be purchased on board the train from the conductor if approached immediately. According to SNCB, a surcharge of 9 euros is charged here. ¹

Arrival and Border Points

Luxembourg

From Luxembourg, cross-border SNCB trains to Liège or Brussels can be used. In 2nd class, the FIP ticket (voucher or FIP 50) is sufficient for the entire route, as public transport in Luxembourg is free in 2nd class. For 1st class, an additional FIP ticket for CFL is required.

Germany

From Germany, the cross-border ICE from Frankfurt / Cologne / Aachen can be used to enter the SNCB network. A regional train of SNCB also runs between Aachen and Liège. In both cases, an additional ticket for the German section of DB is required. The Eurostar (formerly Thalys) can also be used from Germany to reach the SNCB network. Here, a special FIP ticket from Eurostar is required for the entire section (including within Belgium) .(see Eurostar)

Netherlands

From the Netherlands, cross-border regional trains (including IC here) can be used, requiring an additional FIP ticket for NS. The Eurostar (formerly Thalys) can also be used from the Netherlands to reach the SNCB network. Here, a special FIP ticket from Eurostar is required for the entire section (including within Belgium) .(see Eurostar)

France

From France, cross-border regional trains can be used, requiring an additional FIP ticket for the French section. For international TGV trains, there is a global price, and FIP free travel passes are not valid as they are not operated by SNCB. The Eurostar (formerly Thalys) can also be used from France to reach the SNCB network. Here, a special FIP ticket from Eurostar is required for the entire section (including within Belgium) .(see Eurostar)

Border Points

Railway operator	Border Points
CFL	Athus, Gouvy (fr), Sterpenich (fr)
DB AG	Aachen Süd (Gr)
EIL	Bruxelles (fr)
NS	Roosendaal (fr), Visé (fr)
SNCF	Blandain (fr), Givet (fr), Jeumont (fr), Quévy (fr), Tourcoing (fr)
THI	Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Liège

Discounts

Children up to 5 years old travel free on SNCB trains. Children aged 6 to 11 are entitled to a 50% discount on the adult fare, and from 12 years old, they pay the adult fare. If they are FIP eligible, they also pay only half the normal price with FIP 50. ²

Special Tariffs

Brussels Zaventem Airport

For connections to and from Brussels Zaventem Airport, a surcharge must be paid for the FIP voucher. This currently amounts to 6.70 euros (see SNCB info) and must also be paid if the note No Supplement Necessary is indicated. For FIP 50 tickets, this is already included in the price. ²

Experiences

The first class in SNCB / NMBS trains is often used with second class tickets. Also, the 1st class is usually not much more comfortable than the second class. Unlike in other countries, buying first class tickets to have more space and quiet is only worthwhile to a limited extent.