A new high-speed train service, the Intercity New Generation (ICNG), will launch at the end of this year between Brussels and Amsterdam, operated by Dutch (NS) and Belgian (SNCB) railway companies. This service will cut travel time by 45 minutes, reaching speeds of 200 km/h on the high-speed line.
Key features:
- Doubles the daily trains between Netherlands and Brussels from 16 to 32.
- Stops only at Antwerp-Central, Rotterdam-Central, and Schiphol Airport.
- Terminates at Amsterdam-Zuid, with city center access via tram or metro.
- In Brussels, it stops only at Brussels-Midi, skipping Brussels-North and Brussels-Central.
Concerns from TreinTramBus include:
- Importance of Brussels-North as a transfer hub and Brussels-Central for tourists.
- Impact on domestic services, especially between Antwerp and Brussels.
The older Intercity service will still run but end at Rotterdam-Central, no longer continuing to Amsterdam-Central. The integration of the new service into Belgium’s domestic network is unclear. SNCB and Infrabel are assessing the changes’ impact on domestic train paths and services. Integration into Belgium’s domestic network for travelers between Brussels and Antwerp is uncertain.
