Brussels Midi/Zuid train station guide

All about the departure platforms, station facilities, and special assistance at Brussels-Midi/Zuid station.

Travel to/from London: border rules are changing

From 12 October 2025, we're gradually introducing the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) border procedures. If you’re a non-EU national travelling from that date, find out what this means for your journey.

Departing from Brussels Midi/Zuid station

Get all the info you need on when to arrive and how to travel from Brussels-Midi/Zuid. The process differs if you’re going to London, travelling direct to another of our European destinations, or hopping on a connecting train. Check the sections below to prepare for your trip.

How to get to our direct trains to London

When you get to the station, follow the signs for platforms 1 and 2 to the ‘Channel Terminal’. You’ll find Eurostar departures on the ground floor in the main concourse. It's next to the Eurostar information and services desk.

When to arrive at the Channel Terminal

Eurostar Standard or Eurostar Plus
Please arrive at the recommended time shown on your ticket to complete all pre-departure checks. To make sure it's up to date, download your ticket close to your travel date. Ticket gates close 30 minutes before departure.

Eurostar Premier
Ticket gates close 15 minutes before departure. But please arrive at the station with enough time to complete all pre-departure checks.

Haven't booked your ticket yet? Check our general advice on when to arrive at the station. These timings are for guidance only and can sometimes change.

How to go through checks at the Channel Terminal

Ticket gates
Make your way to the ticket gates and be ready to scan the QR code on your paper ticket or on your mobile.

Travelling as a group? Make sure you scan all tickets individually.

If you scan your ticket and a new one is issued, it means that your seat has changed. Hold on to it. You’ll need it to find your new seat when you board.

Tickets issued by other carriers may not have a QR code so you’ll need to speak to a member of our team.

Security
Next, there's a security check for you and your luggage. Please make sure that you don’t go over the luggage allowance and that you don’t bring anything which is prohibited. There are no weight restrictions, as long as you can safely lift and carry your luggage by yourself.

If you’re carrying anything in your pockets, please place these items in a tray or in your luggage. All other items can be left in your bag(s).

If you have a pacemaker, please inform the security team before going through the metal detector. You may be asked to show your medical device ID card.

Passport control
Your passport (and any other travel document(s) you may need for your trip) will be checked twice – first by Belgian authorities and then by UK Border Force.

Passport checks by the Belgian authorities are done manually at a booth. At UK border control, you may be able to use the ePassport gates rather than a manual control booth. Our station team will direct you to the correct lane on the day of travel.

Eurostar departure lounge

We’re making some improvements to our departure lounge, so fewer seats may be available for a while. During the works, you’ll still have access to the following facilities:

Aelia shop
Vending machines (cold drinks and snacks)
Wifi
Power bikes (if you feel like cycling to recharge the battery of your electronic devices)
A foosball table
A free library
A water fountain
Power sockets in some seating areas
Tax refund facilities
Toilets (including accessible facilities)
Baby-changing facilities

Facilities in our Eurostar Premier Lounge

After clearing passport control, Eurostar Premier travellers and Carte Blanche and Étoile Club Eurostar members can access our dedicated Eurostar Premier Lounge, where they'll find:

Comfortable seating for working or relaxing
Free wi-fi
A selection of snacks and drinks
A range of complimentary newspapers and magazines
Power sockets in most seating areas

The Eurostar Premier Lounge can be accessed up to two hours before departure. It's located after you've passed through passport control. Go through the duty-free shop and turn left into the departure lounge. Walk straight through and you'll find it to the right of the toilets and the customs office.

Board your direct train to London

Our trains leave from platforms 1 to 3. The platform your train departs from will be shown on the screens in the departure lounge when boarding starts. Boarding will be announced around 20 minutes before departure.

Arriving at the station

For a stress-free getaway, please arrive at the station at least 20 minutes before your train leaves.

How to find your platform

Check the departure board to find your platform. Make sure you're ready to board at least 5 minutes before your train is scheduled to leave.

Facilities in our Eurostar Premier Lounge

Eurostar Premier travellers and Carte Blanche and Étoile Club Eurostar members can access our dedicated Eurostar Premier Lounge up to 2 hours before their train departs. There they'll find:

Comfortable seating for working or relaxing
Free wi-fi
Spacious meeting areas and phone booths for undisturbed phone calls
A selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks
A range of complimentary newspapers and magazines
Power sockets
Toilets with accessible facilities

The Eurostar Premier Lounge is located a 3-minute walk away from Brussels-Midi/Zuid at Rue de l'Instruction 158, 1060, Saint-Gilles, which is at Place Victor Horta. To get there, follow the signs to the taxi stand and exit the station. Once you've reached Place Victor Horta, take a left and cross the square. You'll find the Eurostar Premier Lounge at the end on your right.

Booking accessible travel in Brussels-Midi

Find everything you need to know about accessible travel, including who we can help and how to book assistance for direct and connecting journeys.

Connections via Brussels-Midi/Zuid

Learn how to catch your connecting train to any other station in Belgium, or how to travel to Brussels Zaventem or Brussels South Charleroi airports. Below, you'll find details on how to get to your next station by public transport, how long the journey takes, and what to expect when you arrive – so you know where to go and when to be there. If you're catching a connecting train, please give yourself at least an hour to find your way to the right platform and pass through any extra security checks.

Connecting at Paris Gare du Nord or any other Paris station? Visit our Paris Gare du Nord station guide for all the practical information.

Take the exit on the Eurostar platform and go down to the main part of the station.
Check the departures board for your connecting train – Eurostar trains (except those to and from London) and ICE trains usually leave from platforms 3, 4, 5 and 6.
If you’re travelling to the Netherlands or Germany, there may be security checks for Eurostar and ICE trains leaving Brussels-Midi/Zuid station. Your ticket, ID and luggage could be checked before you’re able to go to the platform.
Head to the platform and hop on board when your train arrives.

After getting off your Eurostar or ICE train, take the exit on the platform and go down to the main part of the station.
Head straight to the Channel Terminal, under platforms 1 and 2, where you’ll go through ticket, security and passport checks before boarding your Eurostar train.

If you’re traveling between Brussels-Midi/Zuid and Brussels Airport (Zaventem), the easiest option is a direct SNCB/NMBS train to the airport. A one-way journey typically takes about 20 to 25 minutes, and trains run frequently throughout the day.

How to get from Brussels-Midi/Zuid to Brussels Airport (Zaventem):

From the main concourse at Brussels-Midi/Zuid, follow the signs for 'SNCB/NMBS trains'.
Purchase a standard train ticket to 'Brussels Airport – Zaventem'. The price includes the Diabolo surcharge, which grants access to the airport station.
Check the departure boards for IC (InterCity) trains heading toward Leuven, Landen, or Eupen – many of these stop at the airport.
Make sure 'Brussels Airport – Zaventem' is listed as a stop before boarding.
Once on board, the ride takes about 20 minutes.
At the airport station (underground), follow the signs for 'Departures' to reach your terminal. It’s a short walk via escalators and lifts.

How to return from Brussels Airport (Zaventem) to Brussels-Midi/Zuid:

After exiting baggage claim, follow the signs for 'Train/Gare/Station' to reach the Brussels Airport railway station, located beneath the terminal.
Purchase a ticket to 'Brussels-Midi', or use the SNCB app or contactless payment at the gates.
Look for IC trains heading toward Mons, Charleroi, or Brussels-South (Midi) – these typically stop at Brussels-Midi/Zuid.
Board the appropriate train and check onboard displays or audio announcements to track your stop.

If you’re traveling between Brussels‑Midi/Zuid and Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), you can take a direct Flibco/FlixBus coach or hop on a train and TEC airport shuttle. The travel time is usually between 55 and 90 minutes, depending on your route and connections.

How to get from Brussels‑Midi/Zuid to Charleroi Airport (CRL)
Option A: direct coach (Flibco/FlixBus) – approx. 55 minutes

From Brussels-Midi/Zuid, board the Flibco coach (often branded as FlixBus) that travels directly to Charleroi Airport.
Buses depart from the designated stop near the station (usually by the Rue de France exit).
Coaches run approximately every 20 to 30 minutes from early morning until late evening.
The journey takes about 55 minutes, and tickets cost between €7 and €20, depending how early you book.
The bus drops you off right in front of the airport terminal, making it a convenient choice – especially with luggage.

Option B: train and TEC airport shuttle – approx. 70 to 90 minutes

Purchase a combined 'Charleroi Airport Ticket' from an SNCB/NMBS machine, a ticket counter, or online. This covers the train and shuttle.
Board an IC (InterCity) train from Brussels-Midi/Zuid to Charleroi-Central. The travel time is between 50 and 60 minutes.
At Charleroi-Central, exit the station and transfer to the TEC Aéroport shuttle (Bus A) just outside. The ride to the airport takes 20 minutes.
The combined journey takes about 75 minutes, depending on train and bus connection times.

How to return from Charleroi Airport (CRL) to Brussels‑Midi/Zuid
Option A: direct coach (Flibco/FlixBus) - approx. 55 minutes

After exiting baggage claim, follow signs to the Flibco/FlixBus stop just outside the terminal.
Board the coach to Brussels-Midi/Zuid (ticket required in advance or via mobile).
Buses run roughly every 20 to 30 minutes. The journey time is about 55 minutes.

Option B: TEC shuttle and train - approx. 70 to 80 minutes

Board the TEC Bus A to Charleroi-Central railway station (travel time approx. 20 minutes).
From there, take an IC train to Brussels-Midi/Zuid (travel time approx. 50 to 60 minutes).
You can purchase a combined ticket in advance or buy separate bus and train tickets at the station or online.

Practical information

Station facilities and Eurostar services

Address: Avenue Fonsny 47 b, 1060 Brussels

Station facilities: Car park, bike park, bureau de change offices, luggage lockers (24-hour service), Villo! bike rental, shops and restaurants, Securail (SNCB security service available 24/7)

Eurostar facilities: Inside the Channel Terminal, you'll find two Eurostar ticket machines. Looking for a helping hand? Our staff at the Eurostar information and services desk are there to help.

Car rental: Take advantage of the Eurostar partnership with Hertz (opens in a new tab) to rent a car.

Train services for onward journeys

From Brussels-Midi/Zuid, you can continue your journey within Belgium or travel onwards to other European cities. Book your ticket with SNCB, Belgium’s national railway company, at the following ticket offices located in the station:

At the SNCB domestic ticket office, you can buy or exchange tickets for Belgian destinations and for all IC (Intercity) trains to Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Luxembourg. It is located on the main concourse next to the escalators leading up to platform 10.

At the SNCB International ticket office you can buy or exchange tickets to all other international destinations. It can be found on the main concourse near platform 3.

Opening hours of both offices:

Monday to Friday: 05:15–20:00 CET
Saturday and Sunday: 07:15–20:00 CET

FAQs

The station is easily accessible on foot, by bike, or by public transport. We don't recommend driving to or from the station as road traffic in and around Brussels can get quite congested, especially at rush hour (typically, between 06:00 and 09:00 and 16:00 and 20:00).

Plan your journey to Brussels-Midi by public transport — whether you're traveling with public transport from Wallonia (opens in a new tab), using other local public transport options (opens in a new tab), or taking a national train (opens in a new tab).

You can find your scheduled departure time on your ticket. For the latest timetable updates, check our Train Status and Timetables page or the departure board at the station.

Our trains from Brussels-Midi/Zuid to London depart from platforms 1, 2, or 3. Head to the Channel Terminal and through security and passport checks before going to the platform.

Our trains from Brussels-Midi/Zuid to the Netherlands, France, or Germany usually depart from platforms 3, 4, 5, or 6. Check the departure board at the station for the exact platform.

To buy a ticket for Brussels public transport (métro, tram, or bus), follow the M signs to level -1. You can use a GO ticket machine or head over to the KIOSK ticket office. If you want to skip the lines, you can purchase a digital ticket in advance using the STIB-MIVB app. (opens in a new tab) Or simply use your credit/debit card or your smartphone to tap in and out.

If you lose something at the station or on board and your final destination is in Belgium, you can directly report your loss online with SNCB (opens in a new tab). After doing so, you will receive a case number to get informed about where and when you can retrieve your lost item.

In all other cases, check our Lost Property page for more information.

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Brussels Midi/Zuid train station guide

Departing from Brussels Midi/Zuid station