Welcome to today's thread - 2025 #CrossBorderRail Conclusions Tour Day 12 - Bruxelles - Gent - Eeklo - Brugge
-
Foul cycle ride from near Schuman to Bruxelles Midi. Car went through a red light, businessman who couldn’t control the speed of his e-bike cut me up, braked too hard, and bumped into another cyclist. And Brussels cyclists are taking on the traits of Brussels car drivers: selfish and odd, unexpected behaviours. #CrossBorderRail
Interesting comment from another cyclist yesterday in the EU quarter. I was unlocking my tiny folding Birdy next to his massive electric long tail. “Is that electric?” he asked me about my bike. “No” I replied. “Oh you can’t be from Brussels then!” As if no one in their right mind would ride anything else. #CrossBorderRail
-
Interesting comment from another cyclist yesterday in the EU quarter. I was unlocking my tiny folding Birdy next to his massive electric long tail. “Is that electric?” he asked me about my bike. “No” I replied. “Oh you can’t be from Brussels then!” As if no one in their right mind would ride anything else. #CrossBorderRail
#CrossBorderRail Conclusions Tour Train 38 of 74
IC 430
09:38 Bruxelles Midi - Gent St Pieters 10:06
SNCBTrain type: 2x Siemens 18 locomotive top-tailing 6 double deck carriages
️ (3kV dc)
: 
(loads of space)
🦽: (needs train manager to open a special door)
🛜:
️
️: ️
🧳:
(hit and miss - get the right carriage and it’s ok as double deck designs go)
🧽:
Interrail: (accepted) -
#CrossBorderRail Conclusions Tour Train 38 of 74
IC 430
09:38 Bruxelles Midi - Gent St Pieters 10:06
SNCBTrain type: 2x Siemens 18 locomotive top-tailing 6 double deck carriages
️ (3kV dc): (loads of space)
🦽: (needs train manager to open a special door)
🛜:️️: ️
🧳: (hit and miss - get the right carriage and it’s ok as double deck designs go)
🧽: Interrail: (accepted)(Stats from Central where I’d intended boarding it)
IC 430
09:28 Bruxelles Central - Gent St Pieters 10:06Distance: 51.8km
Average speed: 82km/h2 stops:
Bruxelles Midi
Gent St PietersThis train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2025-conclusions-tour_1266988#11/50.9411/4.0121
-
(Stats from Central where I’d intended boarding it)
IC 430
09:28 Bruxelles Central - Gent St Pieters 10:06Distance: 51.8km
Average speed: 82km/h2 stops:
Bruxelles Midi
Gent St PietersThis train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2025-conclusions-tour_1266988#11/50.9411/4.0121
#CrossBorderRail Conclusions Tour Train 39 of 74
S51 759
10:14 Gent St Pieters - Eeklo 10:49
SNCBTrain type: Alstom AR41 DMU, 2x 2 carriages
️:
🦽: (lift on platform)
🛜:️️: ️
🧳:
️ (high steps, some doors narrow, not great once you’re in either)
🧽: Interrail: (accepted) -
#CrossBorderRail Conclusions Tour Train 39 of 74
S51 759
10:14 Gent St Pieters - Eeklo 10:49
SNCBTrain type: Alstom AR41 DMU, 2x 2 carriages
️:
🦽: (lift on platform)
🛜:️️: ️
🧳:️ (high steps, some doors narrow, not great once you’re in either)
🧽: Interrail: (accepted)S51 759
10:14 Gent St Pieters - Eeklo 10:49Distance: 26.5km
Average speed: 45km/h7 stops:
Gentbrugge
Gent-Dampoort
Wondelgem
Evergem
Sleidinge
Waarschoot
EekloThis train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2025-conclusions-tour_1266988#12/51.1052/3.6663
-
S51 759
10:14 Gent St Pieters - Eeklo 10:49Distance: 26.5km
Average speed: 45km/h7 stops:
Gentbrugge
Gent-Dampoort
Wondelgem
Evergem
Sleidinge
Waarschoot
EekloThis train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2025-conclusions-tour_1266988#12/51.1052/3.6663
These AR41 DMUs are among the weirdest rolling stock acquisitions in modern times. Built 2000-2002, they’re high floor (when low floor DMUs already existed), have few doors (but serve routes with many stops). The motor vibrations are quite bad too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Railways_Class_41?wprov=sfti1#
-
These AR41 DMUs are among the weirdest rolling stock acquisitions in modern times. Built 2000-2002, they’re high floor (when low floor DMUs already existed), have few doors (but serve routes with many stops). The motor vibrations are quite bad too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Railways_Class_41?wprov=sfti1#
And the high floor DMUs work especially well with the platforms along the route that weren’t renovated, so are about 30cm above the rail
-
And the high floor DMUs work especially well with the platforms along the route that weren’t renovated, so are about 30cm above the rail
Cashier at Lidl, Eeklo gets arsey that I have three bike panniers with me in the store
Do tell me in our car dominated shopping culture how I am supposed to do any different? I can’t leave valuables on the bike!
Edit: to be clear - the cashier wasn’t annoyed by panniers per se, but wanted to search them to check I wasn’t shoplifting.
-
Cashier at Lidl, Eeklo gets arsey that I have three bike panniers with me in the store
Do tell me in our car dominated shopping culture how I am supposed to do any different? I can’t leave valuables on the bike!
Edit: to be clear - the cashier wasn’t annoyed by panniers per se, but wanted to search them to check I wasn’t shoplifting.
Ok. Destination 400 #CrossBorderRail borders!
#CrossBorderRail Conclusions Tour Bike 10 of 17
Eeklo - Brugge, via 3 former tramway bordersDistance: 53.7km
Est. duration: 4:00This bike route, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2025-conclusions-tour_1266988#12/51.2303/3.4099
-
Ok. Destination 400 #CrossBorderRail borders!
#CrossBorderRail Conclusions Tour Bike 10 of 17
Eeklo - Brugge, via 3 former tramway bordersDistance: 53.7km
Est. duration: 4:00This bike route, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2025-conclusions-tour_1266988#12/51.2303/3.4099
So @Pepijn wanted pics of grey Flanders. Voila! #CrossBorderRail
-
T tokeriis@helvede.net shared this topic
