New high-speed rail service links Cologne with Brussels Airport, Antwerp, Leuven and Liège

A new ICE high-speed rail service connecting the German city of Cologne with Brussels Airport launched on 7 September.

The first train departed from Cologne at 6.11 on Monday morning and arrived at the airport in Zaventem at 8.29 after stopping in Aachen, Liège and Leuven. It then continued its journey to Antwerp.

For travellers, the key benefit is a codeshare agreement between Brussels Airlines and Deutsche Bahn.

This means that passengers can travel with one booking for the whole journey. The train service carries a Brussels Airlines flight number, requires a single ticket and check-in process, and offers a guaranteed connection in case of delays.

The Belgian airline aims to attract travellers from western Germany, which is home to a large African diaspora, and boost traffic to its long-haul flight network serving Africa.

Photo: ©Brussels Airlines