North-South Junction

The North-South Junction is a railway link through the centre of Brussels, Belgium which connects the major national and international railway stations in the city.

It has six tracks and is used solely for passenger trains. It is partially underground (around Brussels Central station) and partially raised above street level.

Planned before the second world war, after a decision originally made in 1909, it came into service on 5th October, 1952.


The stations on the line, from north to south, are:

  • Brussels North (French: Gare du Nord, Dutch: Brussel-Noord)
  • Brussels Congress (French: Bruxelles-Congrès, Dutch: Brussel-Congres)
  • Brussels Central (French: Gare Centrale, Dutch: Brussel-Centraal)
  • Brussels Chapel (French: Bruxelles-Chapelle, Dutch: Brussel-Kapellekerk)
  • Brussels South (French: Gare du Midi or Bruxelles-Midi, Dutch: Brussel-Zuid) (the Eurostar, Thalys, TGV and ICE international terminal)

Most national (inter-city and local) trains that use the line stop at North, Central and South stations.
International services (including Thalys and ICE) using the line normally stop only at the international terminal of Brussels South.
Congress and Chapel stations are served by a limited number of trains during weekday working hours only.


The stations of Brussels North and Brussels South are also linked by the premetro north-south axis, which runs through the city centre to the west of the railway line. This underground tramway (historically known as 'line 3') is part of the Brussels Metro network.


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See also