Swiss train travellers will soon be able to test a new international route being trailed by state operators across three countries, with the new route connecting Basel directly with Brussels.
Switzerland's state rail operator, SBB, will work with France's SNCF Voyageurs France and Belgium's SNCB in testing a high-speed line between Brussels and Basel in July 2027.
Train experts Railway Pro say this will be done "by extending the current TGV INOUI service that runs between Brussels and Strasbourg."
The new link will initially be offered three days a week during the trial period: there will be a return trip on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, SBB announced on Friday.
SBB joins SNCF Voyageurs (France) and SNCB (Belgium) in testing a new high-speed connection between Brussels and Basel in July 2027.
During the test phase, the train will run a pair of trips on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
According to the SBB statement: "SBB, SNCF Voyageurs and SNCB are joining forces to experiment with the extension of the current TGV INOUI between the two European capitals, Brussels and Strasbourg, to Basel, from July 2027."
What about the full route?
The TGV INOUI train will offer a full service between Basel SBB stations and Brussels-Midi.
Leaving Brussels at 7:00 a.m., according to provisional timetables, the service will make the following stops along the way:
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Lille-Europe
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Charles de Gaulle TGV Airport
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Champagne-Ardenne TGV
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Meuse TGV
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Lorraine TGV
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Strasbourg-Ville
The service will then arrive and finish in Basel at 12:30 p.m, suggesting a total journey time of five and a half hours.
From 2:00 p.m., the service will then go from Basel to Brussels, where it is scheduled to arrive by 19:00.
The SBB notes that tickets will be available "in the spring of 2027."
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