Further information on group travel
General
Group bookings must be made in time prior to travel.
Click here to submit a request form (only available in French or Dutch).
On working days, groups bookings cannot be made for travel on commuter trains servicing the stations within the Brussels area between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.).
For group bookings for international travel: click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can requests only be submitted via the Internet?
- Is a group ticket the most economical price formula for my group?
- When should I make a booking?
- When will I receive confirmation for my group booking?
- How do I pay for the group ticket?
- What if the composition of the group changes?
- How to cancel a group booking?
- Do children under the age of 12 travel free of charge?
- I want to reserve a seat but I am not purchasing a group ticket.
- Miscellaneous
- Contact form
Can requests only be submitted via the Internet?
Using the online booking form (only available in French or Dutch) certainly has its advantages. Not only is the form available 24/7, it also speeds up the processing time of your request. In addition, you will immediately receive a copy of your request via e-mail.
The Domestic Group Travel department is available by telephone:
- 02 528 28 28
Is a group ticket the most economical price formula for my group?
Groups travel at a more economical rate, and therefore the ticket price per person is usually less than the ticket price under any other formula. Furthermore, only passengers travelling with a group ticket are eligible for seat reservation.
- Consult our ticket prices for B-Excursions for school groups (only available in French or Dutch)
- Consult our ticket prices for B-Excursions for other groups and individuals (only available in French or Dutch)
When should I make a booking?
The latest possible date for booking a group ticket depends on your preferred ticket delivery method.
- You prefer to collect the group ticket from the service desk at the station of your choice.
- In this case, you must book your group ticket at the latest 7 working days prior to your travel date.
- You prefer to receive the group ticket via mail (postal service).
- We need to receive your booking request at least 12 working days prior to your travel date.
Many trains have a limited number of seats available. Large groups are therefore advised to submit their request for a group booking as early as possible.
When will I receive confirmation for my group booking?
Upon receiving your request, we will determine which trains have the required number of seats available on your date of travel. We always strive to comply with the departure and arrival times of your choice. You will receive an e-mail with the full details of our trip proposal.
If you still haven’t received our trip proposal 7 days prior to your travel date, please contact our Group Travel Department. We will address the matter as quickly as possible.
How do I pay for the group ticket?
The payment method depends on the ticket delivery method of your choice (see above).
- You prefer to collect the group ticket from the station of your choice: cash or bank card payment at the counter. Payment must occur at the latest 5 working days prior to your travel date.
- You prefer to receive the group ticket via mail (postal service): payment via bank transfer. The amount payable must arrive in our account at the latest 7 working days prior to your travel date.
What if the composition of the group changes?
- If you have already paid for the group ticket: please go to the service desk at your station.
- If there will be more people travelling in your group (max. + 10), you must advise us of this change at the latest 30 minutes prior the train’s departure time and you must present us with your booking confirmation. There will be no guarantee of seats for the additional travellers.
- If there will be less people travelling in your group (max. - 10), you must advise us of this change at the latest 5 working days prior to the date of departure. The amount to be reimbursed for those people who will not be travelling in your group will be reduced by an administrative fee (EUR 5.00* per group and per single trip).
Please note: after changing the number of people travelling in your group, the remaining number of paying group members must still be 15 or more.
- If you have not yet paid for the group ticket:
Contact the Group Travel Department (see above) by telephone at the latest 5 working days prior to your departure date.
We will adjust your booking. Please note: increasing the number of group members is only possible if a sufficient number of additional seats is available. When there will be less people travelling in your group, the remaining number of paying group members must still be 15 or more.
How to cancel a group booking?
Cancelling group bookings is possible until 5 working days prior to your departure date.
Please take your ticket to your train station if you have already paid for the group ticket. The group ticket will be reimbursed in full after deduction of an administrative fee of EUR 5.00* per travel route.
If you have not yet paid for the group ticket, please contact our Group Travel Department by telephone (see above).
We cannot comply with reimbursement requests submitted less than 5 working days prior to the date of departure.
If the trip is cancelled due to exceptional circumstances, please submit a reimbursement request to our Central Customer Service Department together with the original group ticket, the booking confirmation and any other proof that may be deemed necessary.
Do children under the age of 12 travel free of charge?
No. You must book seats for children under the age of 12 when submitting a group booking request.
I want to reserve a seat but I am not purchasing a group ticket.
Unfortunately, this is not possible. Only group tickets are eligible for seat reservation.
Miscellaneous
- The group ticket is only valid for the designated trains.
- Passengers travelling with a group ticket must not bring bicycles/tandems or small pets on board the train.
- Group tickets cannot include a “via” travel route.
- Travel interruptions, travel extensions, altered travel routes and class upgrades are not permitted.
- The full terms and conditions for group travel are available in our Terms and Conditions for Transport.
Contact form
Any questions about group travel not addressed on this page? Please complete and submit the contact form. We will reply to your query as soon as possible.
* Price valid from 1st February 2012