A new high-speed rail connection linking Belgium, France and Switzerland is set to be tested from summer 2027, as rail operators SNCB, SNCF Voyageurs and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) join forces to extend the existing TGV INOUI service between Brussels and Strasbourg to Basel.
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The trial service, scheduled to launch in July 2027, aims to strengthen rail connectivity between three of Europe's most important travel markets while offering passengers a more sustainable alternative to short-haul flights.
If successful, the initiative could further enhance cross-border rail travel between Belgium, France and Switzerland, while creating new onward connections to destinations including London and the Netherlands.
The extension will build on the existing Brussels-France TGV INOUI route, which is jointly operated by Belgian and French rail operators SNCB and SNCF Voyageurs. SBB has now joined the partnership to test demand for a direct connection between Brussels, Strasbourg and Basel.
The journey
Under the plans, the service will operate with one return journey every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Departing Brussels-Midi at around 7 am local time, the train will call at Lille-Europe, Charles de Gaulle Airport TGV, Champagne-Ardenne TGV, Meuse TGV, Lorraine TGV and Strasbourg-Ville before arriving at Basel SBB at approximately 12:30 pm.
The return service will leave Basel at around 2 pm and arrive back in Brussels shortly before 7pm.
For travellers, the route will create a new direct rail option between Belgium and Switzerland, eliminating the need for multiple connections and making weekend leisure breaks and business travel easier between the two countries.
The trial is also expected to strengthen links between major destinations across eastern France, including Strasbourg, which is home to several European institutions and attracts millions of visitors each year.
One of the most significant benefits will be the improved international connectivity beyond the three countries themselves. Swiss travellers will be able to connect at Lille-Europe onto Eurostar services to London, providing an attractive rail alternative to flying between Switzerland and the UK.
Passengers travelling from Switzerland will also be able to continue from Brussels to destinations across the Netherlands via Belgium's extensive rail network.
However, the current timetable does not allow passengers travelling from London to make a same-day connection onwards to Basel via Lille.
Tickets for the trial service are expected to go on sale in spring next year ahead of the launch in July 2027.