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Brussels Midi/Zuid
Brussels Midi/Zuid is the main station in Brussels and conveniently located in the heart of the city.
Here we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about the station, from when to arrive and the departure process to station facilities and onward connections, plus much more.
Eurostar Departures guide
When to arrive
To ensure you have enough time for all pre-departure steps, please come to the station at the recommended time and not just before the gates close. All of our border and luggage checks take place before you depart, which means you can simply hop off the train when you arrive.
The ticket office is located next to the Eurostar departures. Please allow extra time if you need to pick up tickets. Alternatively, you can download our app, which you can use to store, buy and exchange tickets, saving time and paper.
Our trains can carry up to 894 passengers, so there may be times when you experience queues at the station. This can particularly happen on peak days or when checks take a bit longer. But don’t worry – our staff will be on hand to guide you through the departures process and ensure you board your train.
| Standard & Standard Premier | Business Premier | Special Assist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How long before departure should I arrive? (mins) | 90-120 | 45-60 | 60-75 |
| How long before departure does the gate close? (mins) | 30 | 15 | 30 |
Special assistance at the station
If you’re travelling with a disability or reduced mobility, free special assistance is there to help you get to and from the train. You must pre-book at least 48 hours before you’re due to travel for guaranteed assistance.
You’ll find everything you need to know about Special Assistance such as how to book, help with your luggage, parking and station facilities and much more on our Special Assistance page.
When you arrive at the station, head to the Eurostar welcome desk next to the ticket gates.
Ticket gates
When you arrive at the ticket gates, simply scan the barcode on your paper ticket or on your mobile. You need to scan each ticket individually. If you don’t scan your ticket, there’s a chance your seat will be given to someone else.
If a yellow slip is issued when you scan your ticket, it means that your seat has changed. Hold on to this as you’ll need it to find your seat when you board.
Tickets issued by other carriers may not have a barcode 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 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 will be checked twice – first by Belgian authorities and then by UK Border Force. If you have a passport with an electronic chip (biometric passport), you can scan it at the ePassport gates, rather than using the manual passport control booth.
Eurostar departure lounge
In the Eurostar departure lounge you’ll find 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)
Toilets
Baby-changing facilities
A Changing Places facility
Business Premier lounge
Business Premier travellers and Carte Blanche holders can access our dedicated Business Premier lounge where they’ll find:
Comfortable seating for working or relaxing
Free wi-fi
A selection of snacks and drinks at two self-service bars
A range of complimentary newspapers and magazines
Power sockets at your seat
Boarding
Our trains leave from platforms 1, 2 or 3. The platform your train departs from will be shown on the screens inside the departure lounge when boarding starts. Boarding will be announced around 20 minutes before departure.
Station details and facilities
Facilities at Brussels Midi/Zuid
Cafés and shops
Left luggage lockers
Cash machines
A bureau de change
The SNCB Travel Centre (international ticket office), which is open 7 days a week from 05:45 to 21:30
(Please note: new bookings are subject to a €14 service fee and exchanges on tickets not issued by SNCB are subject to a €9 service fee)
Toilets with baby-changing facilities
Lost property at Brussels Midi/Zuid
The SNCB lost property office is open 24 hours a day.
You can register your lost item online. If it’s been found, you'll need to pay a €5 fee when you collect it.
How to get to Brussels Midi/Zuid
By train: belgiantrain.be
By métro, bus and tram: Brussels-Midi/Zuid is served both by métro and tram lines as well as a number of bus routes. Visit stib-mivb.be for a métro map.
By car: viamichelin.com
Parking: Q-park
By bicycle: Cycle parking at Brussels-Midi/Zuid is available by the south exit of the station.
Connections in Brussels
On arrival in Brussels with Eurostar you can transfer to a Thalys or Deutsche Bahn ICE train to travel onward to the Netherlands and Germany, or hop on a local train to other cities in Belgium.
You'll find all the information you need to make your connection in Brussels below.
If you have to catch a connecting train in the main terminal building, please give yourself at least an hour to find the correct platform.