Braybuddy From Ireland, joined Aug 2004, 5304 posts, RR: 35 Posted (3 years 11 months 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1267 times:
I believe the bus shuttle service from Brussels South/Charleroi to Lille and Bruges/Brugge has been discontinued since April. What ways would you recommend travelling to the former and from the latter? Or would it be better to do it the other way round?
Scorpio From Belgium, joined Oct 2001, 4934 posts, RR: 46 Reply 1, posted (3 years 11 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1257 times:
You can take the train. There's a bus that runs between the airport and the railway station. From Charleroi-Sud railway station there's a direct train to Lille every hour. To / from Bruges you have to change trains once (in Brussels South railway station), and there's a connection every half hour. If I'm not mistaken (it's been a while since I took a plane at Charleroi) you can buy a ticket that counts for both the bus and the train service.
Braybuddy From Ireland, joined Aug 2004, 5304 posts, RR: 35 Reply 2, posted (3 years 11 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 1250 times:
Great stuff, and thanks for your help Scorpio. One more question, seeing that I'm familiar with the Ryanair bus service from the rue de France, do you think it would be better taking that to the airport rather than the train, given that you have to get a bus at Charelroi station to the airport?
Scorpio From Belgium, joined Oct 2001, 4934 posts, RR: 46 Reply 3, posted (3 years 11 months 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1238 times:
I'm not familiar with the Ryanair bus service quite honestly, so can't help you there. Though the bus from Charleroi station to the airport is easy to find and clearly marked, and I believe it's timed to connect nicely to the train coming from Brussels.
Braybuddy From Ireland, joined Aug 2004, 5304 posts, RR: 35 Reply 4, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1200 times:
Quoting Scorpio (Reply 3): . Though the bus from Charleroi station to the airport is easy to find and clearly marked, and I believe it's timed to connect nicely to the train coming from Brussels.
Great! Thank you. Probably a better option given that the shuttle bus doesn't operate to a precise timetable.
It's indeed easy and relatively cheap to go from Charleroi-Sud train station to the airport and vice-versa (bus "A" with a plane symbol and "Aéroport" direction sign).
Let me know if you need some specific info, as a "local", I'd be glad to help.
Braybuddy From Ireland, joined Aug 2004, 5304 posts, RR: 35 Reply 6, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1157 times:
Quoting BrusselsSouth (Reply 5): It's indeed easy and relatively cheap to go from Charleroi-Sud train station to the airport and vice-versa (bus "A" with a plane symbol and "Aéroport" direction sign).
Looking at Google Maps, I see there are a few stations in Charleroi, with lines radiating in different directions. Which station(s) do I need for mainline services to Lille or Bruges?
Taking-in the two cities starting from CRL, what way (and order) would you suggest, or does it make little or no difference?
BrusselsSouth From Belgium, joined Aug 2001, 598 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 1143 times:
Quoting Braybuddy (Reply 6): Looking at Google Maps, I see there are a few stations in Charleroi, with lines radiating in different directions. Which station(s) do I need for mainline services to Lille or Bruges?
You should use Charleroi-Sud station (Sud means South), which is the main station in Charleroi, and the only one where every passenger train stops. It is also the starting point of the 'A' bus line, connecting the station with the airport.
I've just had a look a the 'A' bus timetable :
Airport to Station :
Monday to Friday : 2 bus per hour 20 and :50)
Weekends and official holidays : 1 per hour 40)
Station to Airport :
Monday to Friday : 2 bus per hour 15 and :45)
Weekends and official holidays : 1 per hour 05)
The journey between the airport and station (and vice-versa) lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Quoting Braybuddy (Reply 6): Taking-in the two cities starting from CRL, what way (and order) would you suggest, or does it make little or no difference?
It's just a matter of personal preference, really. Just keep in mind that there are no direct trains between Bruges and Charleroi (connection at Brussels), while there are direct trains between Lille and Bruges and between Charleroi and Lille.
Click on the 'F' (French) or 'N' (Dutch) icon next to a line to get the PDF :
- Charleroi - Lille : Line 78
- Lille - Bruges : Line 75
- Charleroi - Brussels : Line 124
By the way, be careful : timetables with a grey 'A' watermark are for Monday to Friday, while those with a 'C' watermark are for weekends and holidays.
Hope this helps. Again, feel free to ask any question you might have.
Braybuddy From Ireland, joined Aug 2004, 5304 posts, RR: 35 Reply 9, posted (3 years 11 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1099 times:
Quoting BrusselsSouth (Reply 7): Hope this helps. Again, feel free to ask any question you might have.
Looks like I have all the information I need now, thanks to all who posted. Who needs the Lonely Planet when you have all the local info just a keystroke away on here?
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20 and :50)
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