Business and leisure passengers travelling between the Belgian capital and Paris this weekend will need to factor in extra time: SNCB International has announced that all low-cost OUIGO Brussels–Paris services will be diverted via Nivelles, Jeumont and Maubeuge on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July 2026. The detour—necessary because of track-renewal works being carried out by Belgian infrastructure manager Infrabel just south of Brussels—adds around 25–30 minutes to each journey and means the trains will not call at Mons as usual. According to the operator’s disruption notice, the works form part of a broader summer maintenance programme designed to increase capacity and reliability on the high-speed corridor that links Brussels-Midi with the French border. While the impact on OUIGO is temporary, engineers will also use overnight possessions to prepare the route for full European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 activation later this year—a prerequisite for raising maximum speeds and easing congestion during peak periods. For corporate mobility managers, the diversion could complicate tight Monday-morning schedules. OUIGO’s €29 headline fares have become popular with cost-conscious business travellers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises that have shifted meetings to Paris following the remote-work boom. Travellers who cannot afford the delay are advised to switch to Eurostar or TGV INOUI services, which have sufficient contingency paths to remain on the usual high-speed line, albeit at higher fares. SNCB International has made ticket-change and refund options available free of charge for passengers affected by the diversion. Anyone boarding in Brussels is urged to arrive at Bruxelles-Midi at least 20 minutes before departure because platform allocations may change at short notice. Passengers starting their journey in Mons will need to travel to Brussels-Midi by domestic service before connecting southwards. The episode underlines a broader reality: Belgium’s rail network is undergoing an intense period of renewal that will occasionally pinch capacity on key international arteries. Mobility professionals should monitor the dedicated ‘Traffic Disruptions and Works’ portal and sign up for real-time alerts to avoid last-minute surprises.
Source: SNCB International
