Brussels direct rail link to The Hague to be scrapped

Direct train services between Brussels and The Hague will be scrapped at the end of next year, Dutch authorities have announced.

The Hague is currently served by train from Brussels four times a day, via Brussels Airport and Antwerp - a journey lasting two and a half hours.

Dutch secretary of state for infrastructure, Stientje van Veldhoven, said passengers would instead have to change train in Rotterdam or Breda - but that journey times would in fact be shortened.

Dutch rail operator NS is scrapping the direct service from Brussels to free up capacity for more trains between Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.

The four daily trains currently running on the route will be added to the Brussels-Amsterdam route, meaning 16 trains a day to the Dutch capital instead of the current 12.