Getting to Lille-Europe station with a private driver
An hour and a half from Brussels, Lille-Europe is the gateway to TGVs for Paris Charles de Gaulle, Lyon or Marseille and to Eurostar trains for London. But make sure you head for the right one: Lille-Flandres is 500 metres away.
Why take the train from Lille rather than Brussels
Opened in 1994 on the LGV Nord high-speed line, Lille-Europe is a through station at the heart of the Paris–London–Brussels triangle. TGVs that bypass Paris stop here before serving Charles de Gaulle Airport, Marne-la-Vallée and then cities such as Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes or Strasbourg. Eurostar trains to London also call here. For a traveller setting out from Belgium, it offers a range of times and destinations that usefully complements those of Brussels-Midi.
By road, you leave Brussels via Halle, follow the A8 motorway towards Tournai, then the A27 once over the border: about an hour and a half from the centre. That is short enough to head off on holiday to the south of France without flying, or to reach Charles de Gaulle by TGV rather than driving all the way to the Paris airport. Families appreciate loading the suitcases and pushchair just once, outside the house, and only unloading them at the station entrance.
- Station checked before departure: Lille-Europe or Lille-Flandres, according to your ticket.
- A well-prepared approach to the Euralille drop-off zones, with no needless detour around the district.
- Departure time worked out from the Eurostar cut-off, border checks included.
- Late-night return to Brussels after a TGV from the south or from Charles de Gaulle.
- Van for up to 7 passengers for families going on holiday by train.
Lille-Europe or Lille-Flandres: two stations not to mix up
Lille has two main stations about 500 metres apart. Lille-Flandres, on Place des Buisses, is the historic station: a terminus served by TER regional trains, many of the TGVs to and from Paris Gare du Nord, and regional trains from Belgium. Lille-Europe, in the Euralille district, is the glass-walled station designed by Jean-Marie Duthilleul, served by Eurostar trains and by the TGVs that link French regions without going through Paris.
People often confuse the two, and it is a costly mistake when your train leaves in ten minutes. All the more so as some TGVs from other French regions also terminate at Lille-Flandres. Check the exact name printed on your ticket and give it to us when you book. If the mistake is only spotted on arrival, the two stations are about ten minutes apart on foot through Euralille, or one stop on the metro.
- Lille-Europe: Eurostar, TGVs to Charles de Gaulle Airport, Marne-la-Vallée and major French cities
- Lille-Flandres: TER, many TGVs to and from Paris, regional trains from Belgium
- Between the two: about 500 metres on foot, or one metro stop
Drop-off, waiting, pick-up: the practicalities
Lille-Europe sits in a district built on raised decks and viaducts, where the access roads leave little room for hesitation. The drop-off zones run alongside the station, and a missed slip road means going all the way round the district again. Your driver knows the approach, pulls into the designated zone and takes your bags out of the boot a few steps from the concourse, without you having to keep an eye out for signs.
For London, allow more time: Schengen exit checks and UK entry checks take place in the station before boarding, and Eurostar closes access to the train at a set time. For a TGV, getting to the platform takes less time. On your return, your driver will be waiting when your train arrives; just let them know of any delay. The night drive back to Brussels takes roughly as long as the journey out.
Lille-Europe station
My ticket just says ‘Lille’: how do I know which station I'm leaving from?+
The full name appears on the ticket: ‘Lille Europe’ or ‘Lille Flandres’. As a rule, Eurostar trains and TGVs that bypass Paris use Lille-Europe, while TER trains and many TGVs to Paris leave from Lille-Flandres, but there are exceptions. If in doubt, include your train number in your request: the drop-off station is checked before confirmation.
Do I need to allow more time for a Eurostar than for a TGV?+
Yes. At Lille-Europe, passengers for London go through Schengen exit checks and then UK border checks before boarding, and Eurostar enforces a cut-off time. Give us your train time: the time your driver rings your doorbell is worked back from that cut-off, adding the drive along the A8 and a buffer for hold-ups on the approach to Lille.
Can you collect me from Lille-Europe off an evening TGV?+
Yes. Give us your train number and arrival time; the meeting point is agreed in advance, near the concourse or the drop-off zone. If your TGV is delayed on the high-speed line, let your driver know as soon as possible so that the meeting time can be pushed back. Then the A27 and the A8 bring you back to Brussels, with no connections and no change of station.
Why not simply take the TGV from Brussels-Midi?+
Sometimes that is the best option, and the transfer to Midi is then much shorter. Lille-Europe becomes worthwhile when the times, the direct destinations or the seat availability suit you better from Lille, or when the London Eurostar that fits your plans stops there. Compare both options before buying your ticket: your driver will simply adapt to whichever station you choose.
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