After years of being in the pipeline, the (in)famous Tri-Country Train started running in the summer of 2024. Operated by Arriva and with NMBS / SNCB personnel on the Belgian side of the route, the Drielandentrein, Dreiländerzug or Train des trois pays connects Liège in the eponymous province in Belgium to Maastricht in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands and Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. 

In December 2024 we finally travelled eastwards of our hometown Antwerp to try this Tri-Country Train. 

The Tri-Country Train

The Tri-Country Train, also known as LIMAX, is a service connecting Aachen, Maastricht, and Liège, with stops at additional locations, operated using Stadler FLIRT trains by Arriva. In Germany, it is referred to as RE 18, while in Belgium, where it is operated by the NMBS / SNCB, it is designated as the S43.

On 30 June 2024, the service from Maastricht was extended to Liège, earning its name as the “Tri-Country Train. The nickname LIMAX reflects the three main cities on the route: Liège, Maastricht, and Aachen, with ‘Express’ added to highlight its regional importance.

The Regional-Express 18 (RE 18) service between Aachen and Maastricht has been operational since 27 January 2019. It evolved from an extension of the express train serving the Maastricht-Heerlen route into Germany, replacing the former Euregiobahn service between Heerlen and Aachen. Arriva operates this route as part of the Limburg concession, employing tricurrent FLIRT trains capable of running under German, Dutch, and Belgian power systems.

In the 2024 timetable, the Tri-Country Train runs twice hourly between Maastricht, Heerlen, and Aachen Hbf, and once per hour between Maastricht and Liège. Certain trips skip the Eygelshoven Markt stop. Arriva has acquired eight FLIRT trains suitable for operation across the Dutch, Belgian, and German rail networks.

Fares

The Dutch OV-chipkaart is valid on the Dutch-German section of the route. Travel from Maastricht to Germany falls under the Arriva public transport concession for Limburg, where national Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) season tickets and the student travel product are also accepted. These products do not apply to domestic travel within Germany.

For the Belgian segment, the following fare rules apply:

• Domestic Belgian travel, e.g. Liège-Guillemins to Visé (Wezet), requires an NMBS / SNCB ticket.
• Cross-border journeys between any station in Belgium and those in the Netherlands or Germany require an international NS or NMBS / SNCB ticket.
• Travel within the Netherlands between Maastricht and Eijsden operates under the NS concession.
• Journeys between Maastricht and Aachen Hbf (excluding wholly German trips) can be undertaken using Arriva Limburg products and fares.
• Passengers can also use the Übergangstarif for trips between Heerlen and Aachen Hbf.
• Domestic German travel, such as Herzogenrath to Aachen Hbf, adheres to German fare structures.
• The Euregio ticket offers a fixed-price, single-day fare valid across all three countries for trains and buses.

Criticism of fare systems

Before the Belgian extension began in June 2024, concerns were raised about the lack of compatibility with the Dutch OV-chipkaart system. Plans to install OV-chipkaart readers at the three Belgian stations were delayed due to technical limitations in processing international fares. Consequently, the OV-chipkaart cannot currently be used for travel into Belgium, and Maastricht remains the final station where it is effectively usable.

Additionally, passengers in Maastricht face challenges with two OV-chipkaart systems: Arriva for Aachen-Maastricht and NS for Maastricht-Eijsden. Those travelling across the three-country route must often disembark at Maastricht to check out and re-check in, depending on their ticket type.

No fare products for specific target groups or season tickets exceeding individual route sections are available.

History of the Tri-Country Train

Direct trains between Maastricht and Aachen ceased in 1992. The desire for a direct link between Maastricht and Aachen re-emerged during the Limburg public transport concession tender, inspiring the concept of a Tri-Country Train. This service prioritises regional connectivity for South Limburg over speed, as high-speed trains already connect Liège and Aachen in 22 minutes.

Electrification of the Landgraaf-Herzogenrath segment began in 2018 to accommodate the Tri-Country Train, with services commencing on 27 January 2019. Despite initial delays in approvals for the German route, the connection became operational after temporary bus replacements.

Belgian extension challenges

Arriva initially planned to extend the service to Liège by December 2018. However, Belgian authorities denied approval due to non-compliance with the European Train Control System (ETCS or ERTMS) requirements. 

After equipping the trains with ETCS and conducting tests in 2022, the extension faced further delays due to late submissions for certification. Flooding in May 2024 also contributed to postponements, with the service finally beginning on 30 June 2024.

In Belgium, NMBS operates the trains with its personnel, as Arriva lacks a railway permit in the country. The NS remains responsible for the Maastricht-Eijsden route.

Railway lines

The Three-Country Train traverses multiple lines, including:

• Aachen–Kassel (Aachen Hbf to Herzogenrath).
• Sittard–Herzogenrath (Herzogenrath to Heerlen).
• Heerlen–Schin op Geul and Aachen–Maastricht (Schin op Geul to Maastricht).
• Liège–Maastricht (Maastricht to Branching Val Benoît).
• Liège–Maastricht (Branching Val Benoît to Liège-Guillemins).

Our journey

Wanting to travel the complete itinerary between Liège, Maastricht and Aachen, we first travelled to Liège-Guillemins via Brussels-North were the Tri-Country Train awaited us. We had left Antwerp for Liège at 9 AM (9:06 to be precise) to take the S43 at 11:08 AM to Aachen. Aix-la-Chapelle in French. 

The plan was to arrive in Aachen in time for lunch, roam around the Christmas Market en then return home. You read “was” and indeed, that wás the plan. But the plan… uhm… didn’t go to plan. 

In Maastricht Randwyck, the train stopped for a long time. Danny looked it up. Due to a shortage of personnel, the ride wouldn’t go further than Maastricht. Apparently this was structural but in no way communicated.

Doubling down on our bad luck, the train broke down in Randwyck so we had to change. Luckily a train in Randwyck went all the way to Heerlen, were another FLIRT would take us to Aachen. 

It would give us time to walk a few hundred metres into Heerlen. Later more on that modest excursion.

Arriving some two hours later than planned in Aachen, we had late lunch there. During lunch, Danny looked at our options for the return trip.

Since somewhere in 2024, the S41 uses a Type 18 locomotive, I11 and an I10 coach to run from Liège to Verviers to Aachen. Previously, the AM66 ‘Cassical twin EMU’ was used on this route. But the 18+I11+I10 compositions were having reccurrent difficulties on this route so the AM66 were sometimes still used. 

We saw the 3:37 PM service would use a Classical EMU. As the Classiques or Klassiekjes were definitively retired on 14/15 December 2024, this presented a last opportunity to enjoy comfort from the olden days. 

So, we cut short our visit to Aachen. No Christmas Market. I’ll have to explore Aachen another time. 

The journey home

But the 3:37 PM service was cancelled. So we took the Tri-Country Train back to Heerlen. Due to a small delay, we just missed the intercity train to Eindhoven.  So we took a local train to Sittard.

Due to small delay, we missed a good connection to Eindhoven. Which meant we would miss a neat connection from Breda to Antwerp. Anyway. 15, minutes later, a train to Eindhoven. In Eindhoven a train to Breda.

We were scheduled to arrive ten minutes too late in Breda for the Benelux train to Antwerp. And for once the Benelux ran on time so we dit miss it. That meant waiting 50 minutes. 

Is that the end of the world? No, we didn’t really mind. We’re seasoned train users and we can cope well. 

But our conclusion is: if you want to go to Aachen for Aachen itself and depending where you’re leaving from in Belgium, you’re better off taking Deutsche Bahn‘s ICE or the Eurostar. That will not be (much) more expensive, but way faster. And you can book a seat. 

A stroll through Heerlen

Well, at least we got to walk in Heerlen. 

Heerlen is a city in the southeastern Netherlands, close to the German border. As of 2024, it has a population of approximately 89,000, making it one of the larger urban centres in the region. The city is part of the Parkstad Limburg conurbation, which encompasses several neighbouring municipalities.

Historically, Heerlen’s roots trace back to Roman times, when it was known as Coriovallum. A Roman bathhouse was uncovered in the city centre, one of the best-preserved in the Netherlands, and it is now part of the Thermenmuseum. 

During the medieval period, Heerlen remained a relatively small settlement. However, it gained prominence in the 19th and early 20th centuries as a centre for coal mining. This industry brought significant economic growth and urban expansion, although the decline of mining in the mid-20th century led to economic restructuring and a focus on cultural and urban regeneration.

Modern Heerlen is known for its blend of industrial heritage and contemporary culture. 

The Glaspaleis or Glass Palace, a modernist building originally constructed in 1935 as a department store, is now home to the Schunck cultural institution, which includes a library, museum, and exhibition space. 

The city also has a strong connection to street art, hosting an annual mural festival that has transformed many of its walls into large-scale artworks, giving it a reputation as a hub for urban art in the Netherlands.

Heerlen’s green spaces include the Brunssummerheide nature reserve, located just outside the city, which offers opportunities for hiking and exploring heathland landscapes. 

For those interested in history and archaeology, the Thermenmuseum provides a fascinating glimpse into the city’s Roman past. The city is also a convenient base for exploring other parts of Limburg and neighbouring regions in Germany and Belgium, thanks to its well-connected rail and road networks.

Glass Palace

The Schunck Glaspaleis has a rich history tied to the entrepreneurial spirit of the Schunck family and the development of the city. Johan Arnold Schunck (1842–1905) moved his family from Kettenis, Belgium, to Heerlen in 1874 to escape competition from mechanised weaving mills in Eupen and Aachen. 

He started a small hand-weaving mill on Willemstraat. In 1882, the family relocated to Kerkplein, where Arnold’s wife, Anna Maria Küppers, opened a drugstore and textile shop. The shop gained popularity among miners who bought durable fabrics for work clothing. Over time, ready-made work clothes were also sold, and the shop flourished as Heerlen industrialised.

After Arnold’s death in 1905, his wife and son, Peter Joseph Schunck (1873–1960), took over the business. Peter introduced innovative ideas, such as free bus transport for shoppers from nearby villages, marking Heerlen’s first public transport service. By the late 1920s, Schunck’s business had expanded significantly, and Peter owned several properties, including the so-called ‘dirty corner’ at the market. The municipality pressured him to redevelop the area, leading to the decision to construct a new, larger shop.

Architect Frits Peutz designed the new building in the Bauhaus style, inspired by European department stores like Les Grandes Magasins Decré in Nantes in France. 

The Glaspaleis, completed in 1935, featured a unique structure with mushroom-shaped columns and exterior walls made entirely of diamond-patterned glass. It included a rooftop café, terrace, and a penthouse for the Schunck family. The innovative design allowed natural light to flood the interior, making it a landmark of modern architecture.

During World War II, the building sustained repeated damage but remained largely intact. The Schunck family used its second cellar as a shelter, and after the war, the Glaspaleis served as a rest centre for American soldiers stationed in Heerlen. The soldiers could read American newspapers, write letters, and dance with local women under strict conditions.

The post-war mining boom benefited Schunck, allowing the company to expand, including a branch in Geleen and acquisitions in major Dutch cities. However, the decline of the mining industry in the 1960s, combined with economic changes like VAT introduction, reduced consumer spending. Parts of the business were sold, and the Glaspaleis was eventually sold in the 1970s to keep the company afloat. Over time, the building fell into disrepair and was used as office space and a supermarket.

In the 1990s, efforts to save the Glaspaleis culminated in its designation as a national monument in 1995. The municipality of Heerlen purchased the building in 1999 and commissioned architects Jo Coenen and Wiel Arets to restore it. 

The €30 million renovation, completed in 2003, returned the building to its former glory. Today, the Glaspaleis houses cultural institutions, including the public library, Filmhuis de Spiegel, a music school, a city gallery, and a café. 

In 2009, the original Schunck name was restored to the building, and in 2015, it was nominated as European Heritage, cementing its status as an architectural and cultural icon.

Lunch in Aachen

So yes, we made it to Aachen. Danny had spotted the Elisenbrunnen Restaurant Aachen or EB Aachen, in Elisenbrunnenpark. We ordered schnitzel and a Sauerbraten. 

And after lunch, we left.

Introducing Aachen

Aachen has a population of approximately 250,000 residents and is the westernmost city in Germany. Aachen is best known for its rich history, centred around its role as a significant seat of power during the reign of Charlemagne, and its importance as a spa town due to its natural hot springs.

Aachen’s history stretches back to Roman times, when it was valued for its thermal springs. Then it was known as Aquae Granni or Aquisgranum.

The city gained prominence during the early Middle Ages as the preferred residence of Charlemagne, who established it as the centre of his Carolingian Empire. Aachen became the coronation site for 31 Holy Roman Emperors between the 10th and 16th centuries. The Aachen Cathedral, commissioned by Charlemagne in 796 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, houses his Palatine Chapel and serves as his burial place. The cathedral is renowned for its octagonal design, exquisite mosaics, and the impressive Aachen Throne.

Adjacent to the cathedral is the Aachen Town Hall, a striking Gothic structure built in the 14th century. It stands on the foundations of Charlemagne’s former palace and contains the Coronation Hall, where replicas of imperial regalia are displayed. 

Visitors to the city can also explore the Couven Museum, which offers insights into 18th and 19th-century bourgeois life, and the Centre Charlemagne, a museum dedicated to the city’s history and its famous emperor.

Aachen is also celebrated for its spa culture, rooted in its mineral-rich hot springs. The Carolus Thermen spa complex offers modern wellness treatments while maintaining a link to the city’s historic bath traditions. 

Additionally, the Elisenbrunnen, a neoclassical pavilion with fountains drawing from the hot springs, is a popular landmark.

The city has a vibrant cultural scene and hosts several annual events, including the Charlemagne Prize ceremony, which honours individuals or institutions for their contributions to European unity. 

Aachen’s Christmas Market, held in the city centre, is another highlight, attracting visitors with its festive atmosphere and regional specialities such as Aachener Printen, a type of spiced gingerbread.

Modern Aachen is also known for its prestigious RWTH Aachen University, one of Europe’s leading technical institutions, which gives the city a youthful and innovative character.

So?

I’ll definitely have to return and properly visit Aachen.