Brussels Midi to Ghent to Bruges

Platform 2 in Brussels-Midi is for Eurostar services from/to London. You must pass security and passport controls.

All platforms at Midi are elevated. You must use stairs or elevators. More details here: https://www.seat61.com/stations/brussels-midi.htm

Between Ghent and Bruges you’ve got 4 fast trains an hour. Tickets in Belgium are cheap and valid all day on any train.

There are fairly frequent trains on the Brussels-Ghent-Bruges route, particularly on weekdays, so that shouldn't be an issue. If you have a pass, it's pretty easy, but regular tickets are relatively cheap too (particularly the weekend return, which is about 50% cheaper). If buying a regular ticket, with a one-way or return from Brussels to Bruges you're allowed to interrupt your journey in Ghent as long as you continue your journey the same day.

I don't know the station in Ghent that well, it is currently a bit a mess due to the construction works, but it should be doable. 

Thank you for replying Schelte! I think we'll get an open return as the plan is to arrive in Ghent as early as possible in the morning and leave just after midday and then head to Bruges till the evening :)

Thanks for replying thibcabe! That's the link I was looking at before asking the question here and I was unsure if that train at platform 2 for the Eurostar had a stop at Ghent too.

The three platforms (each with two through tracks) are two levels underground from the main hall: there are elevators available, regular stairs and escalators. The elevators should probably be the easiest in terms of accessibility.

I’m a local, I’m in aforementioned stations 3 times a week.

There are lifts in all of the aforementioned stations.

Gent is under heavy rebuilding, so a bit more annoying to find the lifts and accessible route at the moment.

Most, if not all faster services from/to Brussels arrive in Ghent-Sint-Pieters on the renovated platforms, which have two lifts and escalators available. You can avoid stairs all together in Ghent. To do that take the lift that’s more in front of the train when you are coming from Brussels, highlighted in green- “oude tramtunnel”. So best board the front of the train in Brussels Midi. (In Ghent, the corridor is on the side of the big office tower building next to the station). The other corridor has annoying temporary stairs which are better avoided when having difficulties on stairs. You can also walk to the better corridor on the ground floor.

When going to Bruges from Ghent, avoid the trains that depart at hh:11, these leave usually from the old very low platforms (1-3) which have a huge step up to get in the trains, and they don’t have proper lifts, only stairs and only escalators up. All other platforms (7-12) are fully accessible by lifts and have comfortable high platforms.

In Bruges the left is central on the platform, between the escalator and stairs. Easy to find.No old platforms to worry about, everything is accessible.

BrendanDB wrote:

I’m a local, I’m in aforementioned stations 3 times a week.

There are lifts in all of the aforementioned stations.

Gent is under heavy rebuilding, so a bit more annoying to find the lifts and accessible route at the moment.

Most, if not all faster services from/to Brussels arrive in Ghent-Sint-Pieters on the renovated platforms, which have two lifts and escalators available. You can avoid stairs all together in Ghent. To do that take the lift that’s more in front of the train when you are coming from Brussels, highlighted in green- “oude tramtunnel”. So best board the front of the train in Brussels Midi. (In Ghent, the corridor is on the side of the big office tower building next to the station). The other corridor has annoying temporary stairs which are better avoided when having difficulties on stairs. You can also walk to the better corridor on the ground floor.

When going to Bruges from Ghent, avoid the trains that depart at hh:11, these leave usually from the old very low platforms (1-3) which have a huge step up to get in the trains, and they don’t have proper lifts, only stairs and only escalators up. All other platforms (7-12) are fully accessible by lifts and have comfortable high platforms.

In Bruges the left is central on the platform, between the escalator and stairs. Easy to find.No old platforms to worry about, everything is accessible.

You are amazing thank you for this Brendan! Our hotel is situated between both trains stations so I wanted to get an idea which would work better for my vertigo :)