SNCB Titled Trains of the 90's
By Ralph Hanley
For a relatively small country, Belgium has had a large number of titled trains running over its network. These ranged from the prestigious Etoile du Nord and Isle de France to the longest East - West Express - with a through carriage to St. Petersburg. On many of these trains, particularly those that passed through Belgium, the only Belgian component was the motive power. Not all these trains provided a daily service as many did not run, or were curtailed on Sundays; some only provided a weekend seasonal service. These expresses were designated as either EC [EuroCity] EN [Euro Night] INT [International] or TEE [Trans European Express].
One of the oldest international trains is the Nord Express; this started in 1896 and initially ran between Oostende and St. Petersburg via Berlin, and would in those days have been a protracted journey! As of this century many of these titled trains have been superseded by the ICE, TGV and Thalys services, and very few remain.
Brief details of the titled trains during the 90's are - TEE Trains; the TEE system of trains was created in 1957 and lasted for about 30 years. The system was formed to provide a high quality fast service between 130 major European cities. Many of these services were provided by the familiar Red and Yellow diesel units. During the 80's the TEE's were phased out and all were replaced by the EC's/EN's by 1987, that is except for those operating on the Belgian system which used the Budd Inox SNCF/SNCB rolling stock and which continued until 1993.
All these TEE trains ran between Bruxelles and Paris and were the Isle de France [TEE 80/85], Rubens [81/84], Brabant [83/86], and Watteau [88/89]. Average journey time was just over 2 1/2 hours; rolling stock was a mixture of [predominantly] SNCF and SNCB Budd Inox carriages. The Isle de France and Watteau originated in Bruxelles, the others in Paris. Isle de France and Brabant were reciprocal trains for the Belgian and French business clients. The carriages were interchanged but not always in the same formations. [Rubens was a well-known Flemish painter and Watteau a French painter in the late 1600's].
EC Trains these were established in 1987 to provide a high degree of comfort with air-conditioned carriages and with reasonable fixed catering facilities. In addition the overall scheduled speed, including stops, to be more than 90 km/hr, and to reach their destinations during the day. The majority of EC trains started as TEE's and became EC's in 1987, they were - Moliere [EC 30/31] ran between Dortmund and Paris via Liege in a time of 6½ hours. This initially ran as a TEE in 1973 between Paris and Cologne before being extended to Dortmund. During the winter of '91/'92 through sleeping cars were included with destinations to Warsaw, Berlin and Moscow. Rolling stock was SNCF with one DB carriage from Copenhagen joining at Aachen. Motive power over the SNCB was series 27 from Aachen to Liege and series 15 from Liege to Paris. EC 30/31 still runs but now unnamed. [Moliere was a French dramatist in the 1700's].
Parsifal [EC 32/33] initially ran between Dortmund and Paris in 1957. This was later reduced to Cologne - Paris, again via Liege, in a time of 5 hours. Rolling stock was entirely SNCF. Motive power over the SNCB was series 27 from Aachen to Liege and series 18 from Liege to Paris. [Parsifal in a Wagner Opera].
Felix Timmermans [EC 36/37] a new arrival in 1993. It was established to overlap the Alexander von Humboldt and allow time for both trains to be properly serviced for "technical reasons" at Cologne. It ran between Cologne and Bruxelles, in a journey time of 2½ hours. Motive power was a SNCB series 16, whilst the rolling stock was entirely DB. [Timmermans was a Flemish writer in the early 1900's].
Jacques Brel [EC 38/39] had several names from Diamant in 1980, Gustave Eiffel in 1987 and re-christened in 1993. It ran between Dortmund and Paris, [via Bruxelles]. Rolling stock was entirely SNCF, with SNCB series 27 between Aachen and Quevy on the down and Paris and Bruxelles on the up service. Journey time was 7¼ hours. [Jacques Brel was a recent Belgian composer].
Alexander von Humboldt [EC 46/47] ran between Berlin and Bruxelles in a time of just under 9 hours. SNCB motive power series 16 was provided between Cologne to Bruxelles. The rolling stock was entirely DB. [Humboldt was a German politician in the early 1800's].
Memling [EC 48/49] renamed from Saphir in 1987 ran between Oostende and Dortmund in a time of 5 hours. It is one of the few entire SNCB trains, motive power being series 18 and the rolling stock type I10. [Memling was a Flemish painter in the 1400's].
Etoile du Nord [EC 82/87] ran between Paris and Amsterdam in a time of 5¼ hours. [This train was covered in Nieuwsbrief No. 39].
Vauban [EC 90/91] - initially ran between Bruxelles and Basle, returning in the late evening. In 1987 it was extended to terminate at Milan in a time of 12 hours. This again was entirely SNCB rolling stock, with series 20 between Bruxelles and Luxembourg. This train still runs, but now this is a mixture of CFF and SNCB stock for only part of the journey. [Vauban was a prominent French military engineer in the 1600's].
Iris [EC 96/97] started in 1974 between Bruxelles and Zurich in a time of 5¼ hours. It does continue to Chur in a total time of 9 hours, but as CFF train 1751. Rolling stock was predominantly CFF with one SNCB restaurant car. SNCB series 20 was used between Bruxelles and Luxembourg. This still runs.
EN trains are essentially the same as EC's except that they operate during the night. There was one solitary named, being - Donauwalzer [EN 224/225] ran overnight between Oostende and Vienna in a time of 14½ hours. It started as a luxury express in 1894 called Oostende Express, changing to Wien - Oostende Express in the 50's and to Bayern - Austria Express in 1991, and finally named Donauwalzer in 1993. Rolling stock was a mixture of DB and OBB. SNCB series 27 was used between Oostende and Aachen .
INT trains are a degree below EC/EN's for comfort and average speed. These normally arrive at their destination the same day and form the base of international traffic. Very few are named. Those over the SNCB network were -
Nord Express [INT 232/233] initially ran in 1896 as a deluxe train. In 1899 a section was diverted at Bucharest for Warsaw [until 1939]. Sleeping cars were added to Bucharest until 1939. After the Second World War the destination transferred from St Petersburg to Scandinavia. It then ran overnight between Oostende and Copenhagen in a time of 15 hours. Rolling stock is entirely SNCB with series 16 Oostende to Aachen and series 27 Aachen to Oostende.
Ost - West Express [INT 240/241] provided a weekly service from Bruxelles to Moscow, with one coach to St. Petersburg. Journey time to Moscow was 20 hours [including change of gauge] and 25½ hours to St. Petersburg. Rolling stock was a mixture of PKP [Polish] and RZD [Russian]. SNCB series 27 was used between Bruxelles and Aachen.
Edelweiss [INT 295/ 296] ran overnight between Bruxelles and Rome in a time of 18½ hours. Rolling stock was a mixture of FS and SNCF with one SNCB sleeping car. SNCB series 20 was used between Bruxelles and Luxembourg. Again this commenced in 1957 to Zurich and was progressively extended to Rome by 1989.
Ski Express [INT 1116/1117] was an overnight winter train from Bruxelles to Lienz in a time of 14½ hours on Fridays/Sundays. SNCB rolling stock was used, and a series 22 between Bruxelles and Aachen.
Flandres - Riveria [INT 1181/1186] ran overnight during Summer Fridays and Sundays from Amsterdam to Ventimigla in a time of 19¼ hours. Rolling stock was a mixture of SNCF, DB, with SNCB coaches added at Bruxelles. SNCB series 25 hauled the Amsterdam to Bruxelles section, and series 27 between Bruxelles and Quevy. This still operates.
France - Alp Express [INT 1184/1283] was an overnight winter train from Schaarbeek to Bourg St Maurice in a time of 12½ hours on Fridays/Sundays. A mixture of SNCF and SNCB rolling stock was used, and a series 22 between Schaarbeek and Quevy.
Camio Azul [INT 1286/1284] ran overnight on Summer Fridays and Sundays between Amsterdam and Cerbere in a time of 16¼ hours. SNCB series 25 was used between Amsterdam and Quevy. Rolling stock was a mixture of SNCF, SNCB and NS. This train still runs.
Viking Express [INT 1232/1233] ran Summer Fridays and Sundays overnight between Paris and Copenhagen in a time of 15½ hours. Rolling stock was a mixture of DB, SNCB and SNCF with SNCB series 27 being used between Aachen and Liege and series 22 between Liege and Jeumont.
Freccia del Sole [INT 1290/1291] was a Summer Fridays and Sundays car carrying train between Schaarbeek and Ancona in a time of 18 hours. SNCB rolling stock was used, and a series 20 between Schaarbeek and Luxembourg. This now runs between Denderleeuw and Rimini.
Pyrenees Express [INT 1362/1363] was an overnight winter Fridays and Sundays train from Schaarbeek to Port Bou in a time of 15¼ hours. SNCB rolling stock was used, and a series 22 between Schaarbeek and Luxembourg.
Service Benelux [INT 2454 - 2471] started in 1988 and maintained an hourly service between Amsterdam and Bruxelles. NS coaches hauled by a SNCB series 11, in a push-pull mode, both in a Yellow/Red livery were used. Journey time was nearly 3 hours. This service still runs.
