Cologne to Brussels Rail
Deutsche Bahn launches direct ICE service linking Cologne with Brussels Airport.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The service uses ICE 3neo trains, with Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB operating the trains in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn; SNCB provides the drivers for the route and will operate half of the services.
2
The two daily departures from Cologne leave at 6:11 a.m. and 2:38 p.m., reaching Brussels Airport at 8:29 a.m. and 4:28 p.m.; return trains serve the airport at 11:29 a.m. and 7:29 p.m. before continuing to Cologne.
3
The new line increases the number of daily ICE connections between Belgium and Germany to nine or 10, depending on the direction, complementing existing services between Brussels, Cologne and Frankfurt.
4
ICE trains on the route can carry more than 400 passengers, while tickets between Antwerp and Cologne are available from €29.99; the Cologne–Antwerp journey takes about two hours and 20 minutes.
5
Brussels Airport already handles about 330 trains on weekdays, connecting it directly with 80 stations; the airport’s rail station dates to 1958, when it became the first airport station in the world located directly at an airport.
Deutsche Bahn launched a direct ICE high-speed rail service from Cologne to Brussels Airport on September 7, 2026, restoring the airport's connection to Europe's international rail network for the first time since 2015 Travel and Tour World. Two train pairs run daily, stopping in Aachen, Liège, and Leuven before reaching Brussels Airport-Zaventem and Antwerp, with the Cologne-to-airport journey taking about two hours The Traveler.
Trains Depart Cologne Twice Daily for Airport
Departure times from Cologne are 6:11 a.m. and 2:38 p.m., arriving at Brussels Airport at 8:29 a.m. and 4:28 p.m. respectively Travel Daily News. Return trains leave the airport at 11:29 a.m. and 7:29 p.m. before continuing to Cologne. ICE 3neo trains carry more than 400 passengers each, with tickets between Antwerp and Cologne starting at €29.99.
Partnership Opens New Booking Options for Travelers
Deutsche Bahn and Belgium's NMBS/SNCB operate the service together, with SNCB providing drivers and operating half the daily services Travel Daily News. Through a deal with Brussels Airlines, passengers from western Germany can book rail and air segments as one trip. The airline guarantees connections if train delays occur on eligible routes, blending ground and air travel seamlessly.
Brussels Airport Expands Rail Connectivity After 11-Year Gap
The new Cologne link boosts daily ICE connections between Belgium and Germany to nine or 10, depending on direction Yahoo Travel. Brussels Airport already handles roughly 330 trains on weekdays, connecting to 80 stations across Europe. The airport's rail station, opened in 1958, was the world's first airport terminal with direct rail access, making this reconnection to high-speed service a significant milestone Yahoo Travel.
Sustainable Travel and Future Expansion on the Horizon
Airport officials expect the new route to support greener intermodal travel by offering a rail alternative to car rentals and shuttle services The Traveler. The service gives Leuven its first direct high-speed connection to Germany, opening travel possibilities for the region. Stakeholders say this corridor could pave the way for additional high-speed links, transforming Brussels Airport into a stronger European rail hub Travel and Tour World.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
17
Articles
16
Reach
33
A
AnonymousAuthor
