Alex2k

Hi everyone,

In about one week I'm flying to brussels with virgin express (landing in
BRU). That is not a problem for me because I've already done that and I know
where to take the train, where to get off, etc.

On the way back, instead, I'm flying with ryanair from that other small
airport (CRL). My flight from there leaves at 18:15. I've read that there is
a Ryanair bus service that apparently leaves 2:30 before every flight from
"the corner of Rue de France" (quoted from ryanair's website). Then on the
same web page is says that because of on-going road works, the bus trip to
the airport is 30 minutes longer. My question is: when should I be at the
bus stop, then? Also, how am I supposed to recognize this bus? any
experience about whether this bus is usually on time or not? I also read
that some people prefer to take the train instead of the bus. In that case
which train should I take and where should I get off. Would I have to take a
bus to the airport after the train?

Any help from anyone who has already done this would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

PS this is my first time flying with ryanair!

Alan \

In the message news:nlTRc.113435$G%[email protected]...
"Alex2k" <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Hi everyone,
    > In about one week I'm flying to brussels with virgin express (landing in
    > BRU). That is not a problem for me because I've already done that and I
know
    > where to take the train, where to get off, etc.
    > On the way back, instead, I'm flying with ryanair from that other small
    > airport (CRL). My flight from there leaves at 18:15. I've read that there
is
    > a Ryanair bus service that apparently leaves 2:30 before every flight from
    > "the corner of Rue de France" (quoted from ryanair's website). Then on the
    > same web page is says that because of on-going road works, the bus trip to
    > the airport is 30 minutes longer. My question is: when should I be at the
    > bus stop, then? Also, how am I supposed to recognize this bus? any
    > experience about whether this bus is usually on time or not? I also read
    > that some people prefer to take the train instead of the bus. In that case
    > which train should I take and where should I get off. Would I have to take
a
    > bus to the airport after the train?
    > Any help from anyone who has already done this would be really
appreciated.
When I last took the dedicated coach from Brussels to Charleroi airport (a
couple of years ago), I had no problem in identifying it; just use the 'Rue
de France' exit on the southwest corner of Midi/Zuid station (just outside
the Air France rail/air check-in bureau). Obviously, if you know the trip is
likely to take half an hour more then usual, get there at least three hours
before scheduled flight departure. Traffic congestion is unpredictable, so
the coach timetable includes a margin of safety.

If you do prefer to take the train, use it to get to Charleroi Sud (south)
station, as there is a direct local bus service between that station and the
airport (= aeroport; details on www.b-rail.be and www.infotec.be if you
understand French).

Regards and 'bon voyage',

- Alan (in Brussels, mind the spamtrap)

nitram

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 10:51:31 +0200, "Alan \(in Brussels\)"
<[email protected]> wrote:


    >When I last took the dedicated coach from Brussels to Charleroi airport (a
    >couple of years ago), I had no problem in identifying it; just use the 'Rue
    >de France' exit on the southwest corner of Midi/Zuid station (just outside
    >the Air France rail/air check-in bureau). Obviously, if you know the trip is
    >likely to take half an hour more then usual, get there at least three hours
    >before scheduled flight departure.

Couldn't you get to UK by train quicker? :-)

Alex2k

Too bad I live in Italy ;-)

Anyway, I went to that website (www.b-rail.be) and I found out about trains
to Charleroi Sud. It looks like they run very often, so I guess I'll go for
the train.
Oh, just one more thing. From the web site it looks like there are two
Charleroi Sud stations. One is called Charleroi Sud and the other one is
called something like Charleroi Sud airport bus. Where should I get off if I
want to take the bus to the airport?

Thanks a lot everyone!

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 10:51:31 +0200, "Alan \(in Brussels\)"
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >When I last took the dedicated coach from Brussels to Charleroi airport
(a
    > >couple of years ago), I had no problem in identifying it; just use the
'Rue
    > >de France' exit on the southwest corner of Midi/Zuid station (just
outside
    > >the Air France rail/air check-in bureau). Obviously, if you know the trip
is
    > >likely to take half an hour more then usual, get there at least three
hours
    > >before scheduled flight departure.
    > Couldn't you get to UK by train quicker? :-)

nitram

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 12:58:25 +0200, "Alex2k"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Too bad I live in Italy ;-)

You are obviously starting from the wrong place :-)

Couldn't you get from Brussels to London quicker by train?

    >Anyway, I went to that website (www.b-rail.be) and I found out about trains
    >to Charleroi Sud. It looks like they run very often, so I guess I'll go for
    >the train.
    >Oh, just one more thing. From the web site it looks like there are two
    >Charleroi Sud stations. One is called Charleroi Sud and the other one is
    >called something like Charleroi Sud airport bus. Where should I get off if I
    >want to take the bus to the airport?

At the Airport? :-)

    >Thanks a lot everyone!
    ><[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:[email protected].. .
    >> On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 10:51:31 +0200, "Alan \(in Brussels\)"
    >> <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> >When I last took the dedicated coach from Brussels to Charleroi airport
    >(a
    >> >couple of years ago), I had no problem in identifying it; just use the
    >'Rue
    >> >de France' exit on the southwest corner of Midi/Zuid station (just
    >outside
    >> >the Air France rail/air check-in bureau). Obviously, if you know the trip
    >is
    >> >likely to take half an hour more then usual, get there at least three
    >hours
    >> >before scheduled flight departure.
    >> Couldn't you get to UK by train quicker? :-)

Alan \

"Alex2k" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de
news:jT1Sc.113675$G%[email protected].. .
    > Too bad I live in Italy ;-)
    > Anyway, I went to that website (www.b-rail.be) and I found out about
trains
    > to Charleroi Sud. It looks like they run very often, so I guess I'll go
for
    > the train.
    > Oh, just one more thing. From the web site it looks like there are two
    > Charleroi Sud stations. One is called Charleroi Sud and the other one is
    > called something like Charleroi Sud airport bus. Where should I get off if
I
    > want to take the bus to the airport?
<SNIP>

There's only one *Gare (rail station) de Charleroi Sud* but it is not
unusual for electronic journey planners to use imaginary subdivisions as a
means of inserting an allowance for eg walking time or formalities like
ticket-buying... BTW, most of the fast trains running between Brussels and
Charleroi (which you can board at Nord, Central as well as Midi/Zuid
station) now have on-board text displays telling passengers where the train
is due to stop en route and what the next station is called. Charleroi Sud
is a major transport interchange, and you should look at the text display
*beside the TEC light rail boarding point, on the left outside the SNCB rail
station* to find which bus stop the next bus to the airport leaves from, and
when.

Regards,

- Alan (in Brussels - mind the spamtrap)

Tim

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 12:58:25 +0200, "Alex2k"
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >Too bad I live in Italy ;-)
    > You are obviously starting from the wrong place :-)
    > Couldn't you get from Brussels to London quicker by train?

Quicker than what, flying FR?

I think that would be easy as FR stopped flying that route
months ago so you'll have a long wait at Charleroi for your plane

tim

Robert

Just another point that might be useful: if you are planning to come
back to Brussels via Charleroi, there are special discounted return
tickets to Charleroi Airport and back, that include both the train and
the bus from Charleroi station. Brussels-Charleroi Airport costs
14.40; it should also be possible to buy one such ticket for Brussels
Airport-Charleroi Airport and back. These tickets can be bought at any
train station.

Robert

By the way, the bus from Charleroi station to the airport departs
every half hour - 15 and 45th minute of every hour, and the journey
takes about 10 minutes.