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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail & tram holiday

Classic Tramways of Belgium

Eight-day Belgian tram tour from London with heritage charters and museums

Illustration of Classic Tramways of Belgium

The Railway Touring Company operates this eight-day escorted tour through Belgium's tramway heritage, departing from London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus and based in Ghent for six nights after a first night in Brussels. The itinerary combines scheduled rail travel on SNCB Intercity trains with exclusive private charters on vintage heritage trams, spanning six Belgian cities and their working and museum tramway networks. You board early 20th-century teak-bodied cars and 1950s streamliners on private charter services in Brussels and Thuin, with behind-the-scenes depot access; visit the Flemish Tramway and Bus Museum in Antwerp and the Museum of Public Transport in Liège; and ride the newly opened 12-kilometre tramway line in Liège opened in 2025. The Kusttram, the world's longest coastal tramway, forms a full day's adventure along the Channel coast. Complimentary rover tickets let you explore each city's public tram networks at your own pace. A Tour Manager leads the group throughout, and accommodation is in a centrally located hotel in Ghent near tram and rail stations. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, tram and transport history enthusiasts, and photographers seeking specialised access to working and heritage systems across Belgium.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed: October 2026 at GBP 2,245; confirm availability before planning

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Brussels

    Eurostar international travel from London to Brussels

    Travel from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi on a high-speed Eurostar. Check into a centrally located hotel near Brussels Central station, explore the old town and Grand Place at leisure with a complimentary transport rover ticket. Welcome dinner at the hotel.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Ghent

    Brussels: a city and its tram heritage

    Tram to the Brussels Tramway Museum, followed by a 90-minute private charter on an early 20th-century tram including rare track and photo stops. Afternoon free for sightseeing or riding the tram network, then collect luggage and take an SNCB Intercity train from Brussels Central to Ghent.

  3. Day 3overnight: Ghent

    Antwerp and the Flemish Tramway Museum

    Direct Intercity from Ghent to Antwerpen-Centraal, then tram to the Flemish Tramway and Bus Museum at Berchem for a guided visit and a vintage tram ride through the city. Free time to explore Antwerp before returning to Ghent.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Ghent

    A day exploring Belgium's coastal tramway

    Short train ride to Knokke on the Channel coast to ride the Kusttram, the longest tramway in the world, with a rover ticket for free exploration or a suggested Tour Manager itinerary. Return to Ghent from Oostende in the late afternoon; dinner at the hotel.

  5. Day 5overnight: Ghent

    The Tramway of Liege and Museum of Public Transport

    Travel to Liege, home to Europe's newest tramway, a 12-km line opened in 2025. Ride and photograph the line with a complimentary ticket, then visit the Museum of Public Transport. Return to Ghent on frequent direct Intercity services.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Ghent

    Rural tramways at Lobbes & Thuin; Charleroi's industrial tram network

    Visit the Tramway du Vicinal Museum in Thuin: a private charter on an early 20th-century electric tram, a depot visit, and the non-electrified rural line on a diesel tram. Continue by train to Charleroi to explore the M1/M2 tram lines past historic steelworks. Return to Ghent by Intercity for dinner.

  7. Day 7overnight: Ghent

    Tramways, culture and history at leisure

    Full day of flexibility: discover more of Ghent's medieval architecture, canals and squares, or use the personalised ticket for an excursion to Bruges, Antwerp, Brussels or the North Sea coast. Farewell dinner with fellow travellers.

  8. Day 8rail

    Ghent at leisure and return to London

    Relaxed morning in Ghent before an afternoon Intercity to Brussels Midi to connect with the Eurostar service back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Ninety-minute private charter on an early 20th-century tram from the Brussels Tramway Museum with rare track access and photo stops
  • Day 3Guided visit to the Flemish Tramway and Bus Museum in Antwerp followed by a vintage tram ride through the city
  • Day 4Ride the Kusttram, the world's longest tramway, along the Channel coast from Knokke to Oostende with a rover ticket for free exploration
  • Day 5Travel on Liège's newly opened 12-km tramway line opened in 2025, then visit the Museum of Public Transport
  • Day 6Private charter on an early 20th-century electric tram at the Tramway du Vicinal Museum in Thuin, depot visit, and ride the rural diesel tram line

Included

  • Eurostar Plus seating on Eurostar service from London to Brussels and return
  • 7 nights accommodation with breakfast
  • 1 lunch and 4 dinners
  • Complimentary public transport rover tickets in Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels, Liege, Charleroi and the Belgian coastal tram
  • Vintage private tramway charters in Brussels and Thuin, tramway museum visit in Antwerp
  • Travel on Belgian service trains and personal train tickets for flexible return trips as mentioned in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Eurostar Plus from London to Brussels and return is included, as are SNCB Intercity services between Belgian cities. Complimentary public transport rover tickets cover tram travel in Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels, Liège, Charleroi, and the coastal area.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
Escorted. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout the eight days. Day 7 offers free time in Ghent or an optional excursion to nearby cities.
What is included in the price?
Seven nights' accommodation with breakfast, four dinners, Eurostar Plus tickets, SNCB Intercity trains, private tram charters in Brussels and Thuin, admission to four tramway museums, complimentary rover tickets for public trams, and the Tour Manager's services.
Which cities do you visit?
Brussels (1 night), then Ghent as the base for 6 nights. Day trips by train and tram reach Antwerp, Knokke, Oostende, Liège, and Charleroi. You also visit the rural tramway between Lobbes and Thuin.
When does this tour run?
One departure is listed: October 2026. The price is GBP 2,245 per person (approximately USD 2,998).
What is not included?
Lunch is not fully included; one lunch is provided and the rest are on your own. Personal spending, drinks beyond those at included meals, and optional activities are not covered.

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