New ICE High-Speed Train Links Antwerp, Brussels Airport and Leuven to Cologne
A new ICE high-speed rail service launched Monday, directly connecting Antwerp, Brussels Airport and Leuven with Cologne, Germany. The service, operated by Deutsche Bahn in collaboration with Belgian rail operator NMBS/SNCB, runs twice daily in each direction between Antwerpen-Centraal and Köln Hauptbahnhof, with stops at Brussels Airport-Zaventem, Leuven, Liège-Guillemins and Aachen Hbf.
The first train arrived at Antwerpen-Centraal around 09:30 with approximately 30 minutes delay, greeted with ceremony at all three Belgian stations. The new ICE 3neo trains, Deutsche Bahn’s newest flagship with capacity for over 400 passengers, mark the first permanent direct high-speed connection between these Belgian cities and Germany, and the first time since 2015 that Brussels Airport has been connected to the high-speed rail network, according to VRT NWS.
Route and Travel Times
Travel times are significantly improved for cross-border passengers. From Antwerp, the journey to Cologne takes approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. From Brussels Airport, the trip is less than 2 hours, while passengers from Leuven reach Cologne in about 1.5 hours. Tickets from Antwerp to Cologne start at €29.99.
The ICE runs on conventional track between Antwerp and Leuven, then uses HSL 2 (high-speed line 2) from Leuven to Liège before continuing through Aachen to Cologne. Departures from Antwerp are scheduled at 11:01 and 19:01, with arrivals in Cologne around 13:30 and 21:30.
First High-Speed Connection to Brussels Airport Since 2015
Brussels Airport had previously been served by Thalys high-speed services between 2003-2005 and 2011-2015, but those connections were discontinued each time due to insufficient passenger numbers and high costs. The airport has long advocated for a new high-speed rail link, and this new ICE service restores its position as an intermodal hub.
Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport, welcomed the development, saying it represents “an important step for Belgium’s international connectivity.” In a Deutsche Bahn press release, Feist noted that the new connection offers passengers from western Germany fast, seamless access to the airport’s more than 180 worldwide destinations.
Codeshare with Brussels Airlines
A key feature of the new service is the codeshare agreement between Deutsche Bahn and Brussels Airlines. Passengers can now book a combined train and flight ticket in a single transaction, with a reserved seat in a separate carriage on the train. The train service carries a Brussels Airlines flight number, extending the Lufthansa Express Rail model to this new route.
Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Brussels Airlines, explained the strategic significance: “A significant African community lives in western Germany, which we can now connect with our network in sub-Saharan Africa.” The airline has indicated it is working on offering further train connections in the future.
Michael Peterson, Deutsche Bahn’s Board Member for Long-Distance Passenger Transport, said the new connection serves the growing demand for climate-friendly international rail travel while expanding the company’s intermodal offering through the partnership with Brussels Airlines.
Expanding Belgium-Germany Rail Connectivity
This new service is the second ICE connection between Belgium and Germany. Previously, eight ICE trains per day already operated between Germany (Frankfurt, Cologne, Aachen) and Belgium, stopping in Liège and continuing to Brussels. With the new connection, the total reaches 9-10 ICE trains per direction per day between the two countries, according to NMBS International.
For Antwerp — Belgium’s second-largest city and a major European port — and Leuven, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, this marks the first permanent direct high-speed rail link to Germany. Deutsche Bahn works closely with NMBS on the service, with the Belgian operator driving half of the trains.
The launch was first reported in June 2025 when Deutsche Bahn filed a notification with the Belgian regulator, as Treinreiziger.nl documented at the time. The service was subsequently confirmed in Deutsche Bahn’s 2026 timetable plan and formally announced at a joint press conference with Brussels Airlines in February 2026.
A Milestone for Intermodal Transport
The new connection reflects a broader European trend toward integrating rail and air travel. Deutsche Bahn has been an intermodal partner of Star Alliance since 2022, and the Lufthansa Express Rail program has operated for over two decades. Similar partnerships exist between Eurostar and KLM, part of the SkyTeam alliance.
Rail industry observers note the service could potentially be extended to Rotterdam or Breda in the Netherlands in the future, though technical challenges around ETCS certification for the ICE 3neo on the Dutch high-speed line would need to be resolved first. The frequency could also be increased from the current two daily services if demand proves sufficient.
As the first ICE trains now make their regular runs between Belgium and Germany, the new connection represents a significant step forward in cross-border European rail connectivity — strengthening ties between two neighboring countries while offering travelers a faster, more sustainable alternative for both business and leisure journeys.