You may remember reports in 2023 on how Deutsche Bahn is interested in running trains from the Netherlands, via Belgium, to France. And DB would use its Arriva brand, already a household name in the Netherlands. Arriva is since 2024 also present in Belgium with the Tri-Country Train.

Arriva has launched a survey regarding this connection. One for people living in the Netherlands and one for people living in Flanders. This survey gives us a few pointers on what Arriva is considering.

We learn the train would not be a high-speed train, but having a speed of 160 km/h. Which in Europe is not considered high speed. 

So it would be interesting to know which rolling stock is being considered. Perhaps DB Intercity coaches? These are being less and less used in Germany and thus become available.

Prices for a single ticket in second class would be between 50 and 80 euros. 

Stops under consideration are Groningen, Zwolle, Amsterdam, Amersfoort, Utrecht, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Breda, Antwerp, Brussels, Mons and Paris. Groningen to Paris would take seven hours. Groningen is far away up north.

Arriva wants to know how often you travel, how often you travel by train, why you travel by train and if you’re prepared to pay for premium services such as a first class seat and / or catering on board. 

More on night trains and transcontinental train travel

• European Sleeper now rides from Brussels to Venice via the Netherlands, Germany and Austria.
• 31 MARCH 2025 | Reopening France – Italy Fréjus Rail Tunnel kickstarts Paris to Milan direct train connection.
• OUIGO ‘slow’ train between Brussels and Paris from 19 December 2024.
• GoVolta wants to run trains from Amsterdam to Bruges.
• Arriva Tri-Country Train between Maastricht, Liège and Aachen will start on Sunday 9 June 2024 without OV-chipkaart.
• European Sleeper night train service from the Netherlands and Belgium to Barcelona now delayed to 2027.
• EU train travel report sees increase in cross-border passenger trains and easier bookings.
• Brussels to Luxembourg by train under 2 hours by 2030?.
• Heuro wants to operate high speeds trains between Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris and London from 2028.
• Eurostar and five more train operators joined the European Agreement on Journey Continuation.
• ÖBB’s new Nightjet sleeper cars accommodate solo travellers with Mini Cabins.
• Trenitalia orders new Hitachi Frecciarossa trains suited for France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
• ÖBB’s Nightjet to connect Berlin to Brussels from December 2023.
• EUROCITY EC-8 | Basel to Cologne in SBB’s Panoramic Car.
• Trenitalia / FS confirms interest in connecting Spain to Brussels, Amsterdam and Berlin.
• Deutsche Bahn and Trenitalia want piece of Amsterdam – Brussels – Paris HST service via subsidiaries Arriva an Qbuzz.
• Sampling NS’ new train and future Benelux rolling stock ICNG.
• REVIEW | Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 Paris – Milan in Business Executive.
• RAIL TOUR OF EUROPE | How easy is touring Europe by train?.
• Eight train connections between the Netherlands and Belgium by 2030?.
• REVIEW | ÖBB Nightjet Amsterdam – Zurich night train.
• European Commission wants booking train tickets to be as easy as booking flights.
• Nightjet Vienna/Innsbruck to Brussels, or how we got thrown off the train in Aachen.
• Why the expensive ÖBB Nightjet is really not that expensive.
• Reliving the era of the great railway journeys, travelling overnight on Nightjet.
• How we plan a big rail trip.
• Ticket Distribution: the failure of railways to sell themselves.
• To use night trains in Portugal and Spain or not?.
• Night trains in Europe.
• Low-cost, long-haul trains to conquer Europe?.
• Fly now before it’s taxed and consider using the train instead.