Rail operators SBB (Switzerland), SNCF Voyageurs (France) and SNCB (Belgium) will begin testing a new international high-speed connection between Brussels and Basel in July 2027, by extending the current TGV INOUI service that runs between Brussels and Strasbourg.
The new service is an extension of the existing Brussels–France route, operated by SNCF Voyageurs and SNCB, and aims to more efficiently connect three major rail markets: Belgium, France, and Switzerland.
During the test phase, the train will run a pair of trips on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The new connection will also offer additional benefits to passengers in Switzerland, who will be able to reach London via a connection in Lille or continue their journey to the Netherlands via Brussels. In this way, the operators aim to provide competitive rail alternatives to air travel. Currently, the Lille–London connection is not available for travel from London to Switzerland due to the existing schedule.
Direct connection between three major markets
Starting in July 2027, the TGV INOUI train will run between Brussels-Midi and Basel SBB stations, maintaining the same intermediate stops as the current service.
The train will depart from Brussels around 7:00 a.m. and stop at:
- Lille-Europe
- Charles de Gaulle TGV Airport
- Champagne-Ardenne TGV
- Meuse TGV
- Lorraine TGV
- Strasbourg-Ville
Arrival in Basel is scheduled for around 12:30 p.m.
At approximately 2:00 p.m., the train will depart from Basel for Brussels, where it will arrive around 7:00 p.m. Passengers changing trains at Lille-Europe for London will arrive in the British capital around 8:00 p.m. local time.
Ticket sales for the new connection are scheduled to begin in the spring of 2027.
The pilot project represents a new step in the development of international high-speed rail connections in Western Europe and aims to strengthen sustainable mobility between Belgium, France, and Switzerland, while also providing better connections to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
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