By lowering the high-speed train ticket prices to the level of short haul flights, numerous travellers would be convinced, he said in De Standaard. He believes that could be done by having Infrabel, the Belgian railway managing company, lower its tariffs for international train companies using the rail infrastructure.
Another crucial condition is a seamless connection between train and plane, Descheemaecker said. International high-speed trains, like Thalys, ICE, TGV and Eurostar, should have easy access to the perimeter of Brussels Airport. However, building a direct high-speed train connection to and under the airport would be far too expensive.
Schaerbeek would be well suited to build a new train station dedicated to international trains only, connected by moving walkways to the North Station, which would then become a ‘regular’ national train hub, Descheemaecker said. He compared it to London’s Saint Pancras International Station being side by side with a train station.
Maïthé Chini
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