Belgium‘s NMBS / SNCB, France‘s SNCF Voyageurs, and Switzerland‘s SBB CFF FFS are joining forces to launch a pilot project from July 2027 that will extend the existing TGV inOui service between the two European capitals of Brussels and Strasbourg in Alsace to the Swiss city of Basel.
The current service, jointly operated by SNCF Voyageurs and NMBS / SNCB, will be expanded to Basel in cooperation with the Swiss operator SBB CFF FFS.
The aim is to offer one daily return service on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, allowing passengers to travel easily between Belgium, France, and Switzerland.
Thanks to this extension, travellers from Switzerland will also be able to continue their journey to London in the United Kingdom via a connection in Lille in the Upper France (Hauts-de-France) region, or travel onwards to the Netherlands from Brussels. The train will therefore provide a credible alternative to air travel on these routes. Under the current timetable, it is not possible to travel from London to Switzerland with a connection in Lille.
Same intermediate stops
From the beginning of July 2027, the TGV inOui will operate between Brussels-South and Basel, serving the same intermediate stations as the existing service.
The train will depart Brussels at around 7:00 (AM) and call at Lille-Europe, Roissy Aéroport CDG TGV, Champagne-Ardenne TGV, Meuse TGV, Lorraine TGV, and Strasbourg-Ville, before arriving at Basel SBB at around 12:30 (PM).
At around 14:00, the train will depart Basel for Brussels, arriving there at approximately 19:00. Passengers changing trains at Lille-Europe for services to London will arrive in the British capital at around 20:00 local time.
Ticket sales are expected to begin in spring 2027.
Notes
- Today, NMBS / SNCB and SNCF celebrated 30 years of TGV connections between the two countries.
- The press release speaks of Basel SBB and not Bâle SNCF, which is adjacent.
- A Belgium – Switzerland connection was the wish of Mobility Minister Jean-Loc Crucke (Les Engagés).
- Until 2016, there was such a connection, but that was a ‘slow’ and ‘classic’ train.
- There’s a rolling stock and ETCS (ERTMS) issue with the current train sets. Independent railway commentator Jon Worth was present at the celebrations and he noted Groupe SNCF CEO (and former French Prime Minister) announced the TGV-M will ride to Belgium from 2029.
- Het Grote Belgische Trein Forum (The Great Belgian Train Forum) predicted the route extension. Only the start date was too optimistic.
NMBS / SNCB & Infrabel related news
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- NMBS / SNCB presents new rainbow-clad Siemens Desiro for Pride and IDAHOT.
- Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station reopens as temporary hub during premetro tunnel works.
- PHOTOS | Presenting Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station anno 2026.
- NMBS / SNCB introduces boarding zones on platforms to further improve passenger experience.
- BELGIUM | Infrabel to upgrade Antwerp-Berchem and add second track between Mol and Neerpelt, amongst other economy-boosting projects.
- Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station (re)opens on Saturday 2 May.
- BELGIUM | Infrabel launches Brussels pilot to curb dangerous track trespassing.
- BELGIUM | Train operator NMBS / SNCB to end on-board ticket sales from 1 July 2026.
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- Rise of international trains puts pressure on the Belgian rail network: domestic services must not disappear.
- ANTWERP | Renovation of Linkeroever station to begin during spring half-term, rail services temporarily disrupted.
- Belgian Mobility Minister wants to revive direct train service to Switzerland.
- NMBS / SNCB & CAF for MR30 / AM30 electric multiple units signed.
- 2026 | Bpost marks 100 years of NMBS / SNCB with a stamp.
- Reorganising train travel in Belgium by 2050: going for the Swiss or the Dutch model?.
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- REVIEW | ‘Belgian Railways Under Occupation: Between Collaboration and Resistance’ at Train World in Brussels.
- NMBS / SNCB to apologize for involvement in WWII deportation transports.
- Antwerp-Berchem Railway Station up for major revamp.
- PHOTOS | AM66 ‘Klassiekje’ / ‘Classique’ Farewell Ride at Antwerp-Central Railway Station.
- Farewell to Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg.
More on cross-border trains
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- Finland and Sweden to be linked by rail this summer.
- European Parliament rubberstamps new regulation to upgrade cross-border railway capacity coordination.
- GoVolta launches daily Amsterdam to Paris day train via Antwerp and Ghent, with tickets from €19.
- EUROPEAN SLEEPER | Brussels to Milan night train now via Antwerp, Breda and Eindhoven instead of Liège and Aachen.
- ÖBB NIGHTJET | New generation carriages to debut on Amsterdam–Zurich route in December 2026.
- 8.7 billion rail trips in Europe in 2024 as Switzerland leads and Belgium’s data remain unavailable.
- PASSENGER PACKAGE | Why the European Union’s new rail passenger package is proving so controversial.
- Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies unhappy with European Commission’s Passenger Package.
- NS will not run EuroCity trains to and from Eindhoven to Brussels.
- Deutsche Bahn, DSB and Vy present direct Berlin to Oslo route, from summer 2028.
- European Rail Passengers Union: EU must act now to make cross-border rail travel seamless, fair, and green: passengers demand guaranteed rights and simpler ticketing.
- NETHERLANDS | The Hague aims to become Europe’s gateway with direct links to Brussels, Berlin, and Paris.
- European Sleeper sets out vision for 40-route night train network across Europe, including London.
- RAIL BALTICA | Elron, Vivi, and LTG Link launch joint tender for regional trains.
- Trenitalia / FS Group advances Paris hub to power European high-speed expansion, looking at Belgium and the Netherlands in the long term.
- Train Charter Services replaces Keolis as operator for GoVolta trains.
- European Sleeper adds Aulnoye-Aymeries, Mons, and Liège-Guillemins to Paris-Brussels-Berlin night train service.
- DEUTSCHE BAHN | First ICE service to the Belgian North Sea coast, at Ostend, this summer.
- Brussels Airlines and Deutsche Bahn team up for Antwerp – Brussels Airport – Liège – Cologne ICE codeshare.
- Trenitalia unveils €2 billion investment plan and orders 74 new Frecciarossa high-speed trains.
- Belgium and the Netherlands work on Brussels to Eindhoven direct train, possibly via Antwerp.
- Belgian Mobility Minister wants to revive direct train service to Switzerland.
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- Snälltåget to run Stockholm – Malmö – Copenhagen – Hamburg day trains from May 2026.
- Nox night trains: a smart new cabin concept or just an unachievable dream?.
- How firm are Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn’s “2030s” Germany to London train link plans?.
- Leo Express files plans for extraordinary 2026 Bratislava–Ostend and Venice–Northern Germany services.
- Rail should be functional, not fine art: EU leaders call for standardisation and lower costs.
- Subsidies for night trains? “You cannot fix this until someone builds more sleeper and couchette carriages”.
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- Italo targets the German high-speed rail market.
- Trenitalia eyes expansion into Germany’s high-speed trains market.
- European Commission wants to link all EU capitals by high-speed train by 2040… and that’s not going to happen.
- Travellers in Europe increasingly open to choosing trains over planes for short-haul journeys.
- REVIEW | European Sleeper night train.
- Paris Nightjet axed: France’s withdrawal threatens Europe’s night train revival.
- Iron Rhine gets renewed political attention in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
- ÖBB prioritises Railjet over Nightjet: Is the night train revival a False Dawn?.
- EUROPEAN SLEEPER | Brussels to Barcelona night train to stop in Avignon, Montpellier, Narbonne, and Girona.
- Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB launch Frecciarossa EuroCity trains linking Berlin, Munich, Milan, Rome and Naples.
- EU train travel report sees increase in cross-border passenger trains and easier bookings.
- Brussels to Luxembourg by train under 2 hours by 2030?.
- 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.
- EUROCITY EC-8 | Basel to Cologne in SBB’s Panoramic Car.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Channel Tunnel updates
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- A London-bound Eurostar terminal at Antwerp-Central? Highly unlikely!.
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- #CROSSCHANNELRAIL | Expanding UK-Europe train links most realistically leading to Switzerland.
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- Eurostar unveils €2 billion Alstom ‘Celestia’ fleet of double-decker sustainable trains.
- Gemini Trains partners with Uber for Stratford to France Channel Tunnel route.
- Eurostar and St. Pancras Highspeed back major station expansion to double capacity amid growing international demand.
- EUROSTAR | London – Frankfurt, London – Geneva and Amsterdam – Antwerp – Brussels – Geneva from 2030?.
- Alstom wants its double-decker trains to ride through Channel Tunnel.
- London St. Pancras Highspeed pledges financial support for cross-Channel rail services.
- London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink aspire to to triple train services to France, Belgium and the Netherlands and add services to Germany and Switzerland.
- Heuro wants to operate high speeds trains between Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris and London from 2028.