Belgian Railways First Class Ticket Review | Should You Buy This? | Visiting Belgium and Brussels

[@RudeCustoms]

Thanks for the video. Well done! But honestly, I would probably still do 1st Class as it's nice not having to deal with a crowded car. Too bad you couldn't get video of what 2nd Class looked like. Still thankful of your video.

[@johnbuckley8324]

Great video - very informative. Also...congratulations on 2K+ subscribers to you channel! Great content will continue to pay off for you. Cheers!

[@theseasonedexpats]

Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!!

[@ralphzechendorf1644]

As said jacquesmertens, most people travelling first class here have their ride paid by their employer (people who work for the railways, their family, civil servants and some others...). The reason they put 2+2 seating in double deck first class carriages is because most people who actually pay for a first class ticket do so in the hope of having a seat during heavy rush periods (like going to the sea). So, they simply put more seats... logic ! :) I do agree it's absolutely weird that you can have so much more comfort on an old I10 second class carriage than on a new first class M7 carriage...

[@yagi3925]

Mate, think in terms of geography, please: the reason why Belgian train cars are pretty basic, including in first class, is that this is a tiny country, in which trips often take less than one hour. So, no wifi, no power sockets, no restaurant car needed for such short journeys. Even a one hour train trip is a big deal by Belgian standards. That’s why our trains are equipped like commuter trains. Your 3h trip all the way to Luxembourg is almost an expedition: equate it with a NYC-LA trip in the USA.

[@soundscapeslaboratory4875]

So sounds like you agree then with the video? Pretty sure he makes argument tht the "first class" they sell as is not really a first class experience that is worthwhile... Just bc Belgium is a small country does not mean we should hold to a different standard for comfort on trains.

[@yagi3925]

@@soundscapeslaboratory4875 "Just bc Belgium is a small country does not mean...". Pardon? "Just because"? Ha ha, it's a game changer, mate! Just because a city bus and an international coach travel on very different distances, they offer a completely different level of comfort. Trips being most often very short in Belgium, it justifies the absence of a buffet car and, imo, also of wifi and electric sockets - even in first class, as the class does not make any difference to the distance travelled. Most Belgian trains are effectively commuter trains and no one equips a commuter train like a long-distance one. That said, the author of the video is right to point out that there's hardly any difference between 1st and 2nd class - in this type of cars. Choosing 1st class on this type of train (M6 coaches) is a waste of money, granted, and I appreciate his frustration. Actually, I don't understand why SNCB/NMBS used M6 coaches for this service to Lxg kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2eno3awndOYf9U, while intercity lines are usually served with Class 96 cars en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Railways_Class_96 The Class 96s offer markedly better comfort, in both classes, with a real difference between 2nd and 1st: a 2+1 configuration, much wider seats, better padded, reclinable, a more premium touch with carpet on the floor etc. That said, there are no power sockets, no wifi, no buffet cars because there the distance is a valid criterium, irrespective of the class. So, do I agree with the editor? Yes and no? In terms of seats and actual physical comfort, I do.

[@lebelgo]

It would have been nice if you'd also shown the 2nd class seats for comparison, but informative nevertheless.

[@jacquesmertens3369]

Our first class carriages are mainly for commuting civil servants, some of which travel for free because they have given themselves that privilege at the expense of hard working tax payers. First class is usually less dirty and quieter than second class, the seats are wider (American size) and there's more legroom. So, if you can afford the ticket there's no reason not to book 1st class, especially during rush hour, or on trains to the coast during summer. Our 2nd class carriages used to have faux leather seats, which were easy to clean. Unfortunately they have textile seats nowadays and I find them very dirty.

[@theseasonedexpats]

Thanks for the comment, and good information!

[@DJarr216]

It's a bit unfair to compare belgian trains with the high speed trains from france, germany etc. They are not the same category of trains to begin with. Belgium as a nation is too small to justify domestic high speed travel. We do have high speed train lines but apart from certain intercity trains if capacity allows, they are used exclusively for international high speed train travel. Europe has a policy to enforce dining cars on international trains, with some exceptions based on distance or travel time. Except for high speed connections with other countries and sleeper trains, all international trains running through Belgium fall within those exceptions. That's why you won't see any dining cars on trains operated by NMBS/SNCB. The recently introduced train from Brussels to Paris that doesn't run on the high speed line and has a 3hr travel time is a another example of this. Those 4 power outlets you mentioned are only there because they are required to clean the trains. They aren't designed for passenger use but I don't think I've ever seen train staff tell a passenger they weren't allowed to use them. So if your phone or laptop needs some extra juice, go for it. Also, Thalys was not a dutch train. It was a joint venture between SNCF, NMBS/SNCB and for a while also DB, with the dutch NS as strategic partner. At the end of september 2023 Thalys and Eurostar merged. The old Thalys service now continues as Eurostar "Red", while old Eurostar now continues as Eurostar "Blue"