Train Change in Antwerpen in 7 min. This Possible

[marc873]

OK. So I am taking a train from Bruges to Amsterdam and have to change trains in Antwerpen. There is only 7 minutes between arrival time and departure time on the other train. Is the Antwerpen train station that easy to find your way around in. I leave sunday for 4 days in A-dam, 4 days in Paris and 4 days in Bruges. The days are dragggggggggggging by. Is it Sunday yet!!

[omisan]

After doing some Googling, it looks to me like Antwerp station (Centraal, I'm assuming) is like any other European station, with a bunch of platforms in parallel. As long as you can quickly find out what platform your connecting train leaves from, you shouldn't have any trouble making it in a few minutes. Just be sure you're ready to get off the train as it's coming to a stop...

I've made changes in less than 5 minutes at various European stations... providing I could get the platform info quickly. Considering how modernized western European facilties are, I'm sure there are screens toward the exit end of the platform that will tell you where to go.

[tumblezweedz]

Haven't been to Antwerp station specifically, hopefully you'll get a confirmation pretty soon. Generally, though, most stations are laid out pretty efficiently, all on one level and with big destination boards up high where you can see them as soon as you get to the platform. Best advice, is have yourself all ready to jump off as soon as the train arrives, run to the destination board, and find your new platform, then, if necessary run like stink to catch it. I don't imagine Antwerp will be immense, so hopefully you won't have any problems.

But is there only one train a day? I would guess that you'll have a chance to catch a later train if you do miss the one you're aiming for - in that case, give yourself at least a few minutes to go outside and sample the area around the station.

I made a 9 minute connection in Japan, pregnant, hauling two little kids, a stroller and a backpack and that connection involved stairs, so I challenge you to make your change with time to spare!

[marc873]

Thanks so much so far. I'm impressed tumbleweedz! Pregnant and with kids!!! This is the last train of the morning and sadly, we catch our place in A-dam mid day, so not much time to play with. I'm feeling good about it though.

[zylah]

I've not been to antwerp, but i did have to change in Utrecht, and there because the lines were at right angles to each other we had to change levels.
(and we got stuck behind some very slow ppl in the escalator)

the trains in Holland run every 1/2 hour (and have for the last 30 years according to my olds)

so if your ticket does not specify the exact train, you should be ok even if you miss your train.

Try to find out what platform you arrive on and need to get to while on the train into Antwerp. (write down the name of the train you will be catching so you can show ppl when they look at you with blank faces)

But you should be fine.
I managed a 5 minute change in Italy when i knew one word (Binari)

[tumblezweedz]

I can see that you don't want to miss that connection! Is there an earlier train out of Brugges? Check out the diebahn site (it's German, but has almost all European connections) - there may be some other route options for you if you do miss that connection.

We missed a train in Leipzig one time (that's a station you need a while to get around!) by an unfortunate combination of no taxis in the queue, having to run 10 blocks to the station, strassebahns crossing, red lights, upended luggage and an obstinate dog (NOT OURS!) We panted up the stairs to the platform and ran to where our train was supposed to be, only to discover that because of a delay on another train, our train had been shunted to another track. We had to run from track 14 to track 9, and were just coming alongside the end of the train when the doors closed and it left. German trains run on time.

The worst part was that when we entered the station, we were really close to track 9, and would have made it no problem had we known of the change! Fortunately, we'd left early enough that we could catch the next train and still made our flight out of Berlin.