BRU Spotting w/o car
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viewtopic.php?f=21&t=12716
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BRU Spotting w/o car
Hi!
I would really like to visit BRU, but I have few questions, so I would be happy, if you could help me.
1. Is there any day which is better trafficwise then other one?
2. Is it possible to get to spots by public transport?
Thanks....
Regards, Keishi...
I would really like to visit BRU, but I have few questions, so I would be happy, if you could help me.
1. Is there any day which is better trafficwise then other one?
2. Is it possible to get to spots by public transport?
Thanks....
Regards, Keishi...
Re: BRU Spotting w/o car
ketko wrote:Hi!
I would really like to visit BRU, but I have few questions, so I would be happy, if you could help me.
1. Is there any day which is better trafficwise then other one?
2. Is it possible to get to spots by public transport?
Thanks....
Regards, Keishi...
I always go spotting by car but the railway station of Kortenberg is at about 10-15 minutes walking from runway 25L.
It's also easy to reach runway 02 by walking from the railway station of Nosseghem.
Best regards,

- Bruspotter
- Posts: 2068
- Joined: 04 Sep 2004, 00:00
- Location: (Antwerp/Belgium)
- Contact:
public transport to airport
Hello
Yes it's possible to reach quite some spots by public transport, I always have to do so...
First of all, indeed the most popular place must be the Runway end of RWY 25L. In that case you com from Brussels to Leuven or from Leuven to Brussels. You stop at 'KORTENBERG'.
During the week the TRAIN arrival times are:
Leuven -to- Brussels
(starting from 05:00)
...h:10
...h:38
(+ Xtra trains @ 06:58, 07:58, 19:50,20:01)
TRAIN Brussels -to- Leuven
(starting from 05:50)
...h:50
...h:22
(+ Xtra trains @ 20:38--- AND train 20:45 instead of 20:50)
TRAIN HOURS IN THE WEEKEND:
(will post this later if you wish, am now in lack of time...sorry.
Meanwile you can check : http://www.b-rail.be/main/N/index.php
From Kortenberg you can easily reach the airport within 10-15min (depending on how fast you go
) by walking to the north...in the direction of the water tower.
However you can also take the bus during the week:
You can take the bus at the northside of the station or you can take the bus at the southside of the station (police station along the road @ south).
You can as well reach RWY 25R from 25L. In that case it's best to take the bus @ the water tower (both buslines pass there).
Busses are:
271 (Kampenhout-Brussel)
05:57 - 06:02 (off te bus @ 'Steenokkerzeel KERK')
06:27 - 06:32
06:57 - 07:02
07:27 - 07:32
07:57 - 08:02
08:27 - 08:32
08:57 - 09:02
10:27 - 10:32
09:27 - 09:32
...h:27 - ...h:32
16:57 - 17:02 (XTRA)
...
17:57 - 18: 02 (XTRA)
18:27 - 18:32
18:57 - 19:02
19:27 - 19:32
...
and so on
225 (Kortenberg-Vilvoorde (Kliniek))
06:09 - 06:14 (off the bus @ 'Steenokkerzeel KERK')
06:39 - 06:44
07:09 - 07:14
07:39 - 07:44
08:09 - 08:14
08:39 - 08:44
09:39 - 09:44
10:39 - 10:44
...h:39 - ...h:44
16:09 - 16:14 (XTRA)
17:09 - 17:14 (XTRA)
...
18:09 - 18:14 (XTRA)
...
and so on
BACK to Kortenberg (from Steenokkerzeel KERK)
225 (Kortenberg) 08:51 - 08:56
271 (Kampenhout) 09:15 -09:21
225 (Kortenberg) 09:21 - 09:26
271 (Kampenhout) 09:45 - 09:52
225 (Kortenberg) 09:51 - 09:57
271 (Kampenhout) 10:45 - 10:51
225 (Kortenerg) 10:51 - 10:57
271 (Kampenhout) 11:45 - 11:51
271 (Kampenhout)--> every ...h:51 (departure)
225 (Kortenberg) --> every ...h:45 (departure)
XTRA busses: TO Kortenberg (from steenokkerzeel)
271 (Kampenhout) 17:15 - 17:21
225 (Kortenberg) 17:21 - 17:26
271 (Kampenhout) 18:15 - 18:21
225 (Kortenberg) 18:21 - 18:26
271 (Kampenhout) 19:15 - 19:21
225 (Kortenberg) 19:21 - 19:26
and so on...
NOTICE!! There are NO BUSSES during the WEEKEND!
To go to Runway 02 you can take the train to Nossegem , from Brussels-to-Leuven or from Leuven-to-Brussels (same train as Kortenberg). If you come FROM leuven it's the next stop after Kortenberg, if you come from BRU it's the stop before Kortenberg. Departure/arrival times to/from Nossegem are given in the same train timetable as the one showing arrival times from leuven/brussels.
The arrival times @ Nossegem are an estimated : departure time @ Kortenberg +/- 3 to 4min. (+ TO Brussels, - TO Leuven)
Departure times @ Nossegem TO Brussels are : departure time @ Kortenberg + 3 to 4 minutes.
Departure times @ Nossegem TO Leuven are : departure time @ Kortenberg - 4min.
If you miss your connection @ Brussels North Station or @ Leuven you can best take the bus 358 (Leuven-Brussel Noord)/(Brussel Noord-Leuven).
off the bus @ Kortenberg RIJKSWACHT (near the trainstation).
If you want to reach RWY 07R you just step off the train in Zaventem station (NOT the airport!, it's the station behind Nossegem if coming FROM Leuven).
I hope this has helped you a bit rather than confusing you. It's just what I know and how I get to my spots!
Good luck and succes with the spotting!
Best regards: Yannick
Yes it's possible to reach quite some spots by public transport, I always have to do so...
First of all, indeed the most popular place must be the Runway end of RWY 25L. In that case you com from Brussels to Leuven or from Leuven to Brussels. You stop at 'KORTENBERG'.
During the week the TRAIN arrival times are:
Leuven -to- Brussels
(starting from 05:00)
...h:10
...h:38
(+ Xtra trains @ 06:58, 07:58, 19:50,20:01)
TRAIN Brussels -to- Leuven
(starting from 05:50)
...h:50
...h:22
(+ Xtra trains @ 20:38--- AND train 20:45 instead of 20:50)
TRAIN HOURS IN THE WEEKEND:
(will post this later if you wish, am now in lack of time...sorry.
Meanwile you can check : http://www.b-rail.be/main/N/index.php
From Kortenberg you can easily reach the airport within 10-15min (depending on how fast you go

However you can also take the bus during the week:
You can take the bus at the northside of the station or you can take the bus at the southside of the station (police station along the road @ south).
You can as well reach RWY 25R from 25L. In that case it's best to take the bus @ the water tower (both buslines pass there).
Busses are:
271 (Kampenhout-Brussel)
05:57 - 06:02 (off te bus @ 'Steenokkerzeel KERK')
06:27 - 06:32
06:57 - 07:02
07:27 - 07:32
07:57 - 08:02
08:27 - 08:32
08:57 - 09:02
10:27 - 10:32
09:27 - 09:32
...h:27 - ...h:32
16:57 - 17:02 (XTRA)
...
17:57 - 18: 02 (XTRA)
18:27 - 18:32
18:57 - 19:02
19:27 - 19:32
...
and so on
225 (Kortenberg-Vilvoorde (Kliniek))
06:09 - 06:14 (off the bus @ 'Steenokkerzeel KERK')
06:39 - 06:44
07:09 - 07:14
07:39 - 07:44
08:09 - 08:14
08:39 - 08:44
09:39 - 09:44
10:39 - 10:44
...h:39 - ...h:44
16:09 - 16:14 (XTRA)
17:09 - 17:14 (XTRA)
...
18:09 - 18:14 (XTRA)
...
and so on
BACK to Kortenberg (from Steenokkerzeel KERK)
225 (Kortenberg) 08:51 - 08:56
271 (Kampenhout) 09:15 -09:21
225 (Kortenberg) 09:21 - 09:26
271 (Kampenhout) 09:45 - 09:52
225 (Kortenberg) 09:51 - 09:57
271 (Kampenhout) 10:45 - 10:51
225 (Kortenerg) 10:51 - 10:57
271 (Kampenhout) 11:45 - 11:51
271 (Kampenhout)--> every ...h:51 (departure)
225 (Kortenberg) --> every ...h:45 (departure)
XTRA busses: TO Kortenberg (from steenokkerzeel)
271 (Kampenhout) 17:15 - 17:21
225 (Kortenberg) 17:21 - 17:26
271 (Kampenhout) 18:15 - 18:21
225 (Kortenberg) 18:21 - 18:26
271 (Kampenhout) 19:15 - 19:21
225 (Kortenberg) 19:21 - 19:26
and so on...
NOTICE!! There are NO BUSSES during the WEEKEND!
To go to Runway 02 you can take the train to Nossegem , from Brussels-to-Leuven or from Leuven-to-Brussels (same train as Kortenberg). If you come FROM leuven it's the next stop after Kortenberg, if you come from BRU it's the stop before Kortenberg. Departure/arrival times to/from Nossegem are given in the same train timetable as the one showing arrival times from leuven/brussels.
The arrival times @ Nossegem are an estimated : departure time @ Kortenberg +/- 3 to 4min. (+ TO Brussels, - TO Leuven)
Departure times @ Nossegem TO Brussels are : departure time @ Kortenberg + 3 to 4 minutes.
Departure times @ Nossegem TO Leuven are : departure time @ Kortenberg - 4min.
If you miss your connection @ Brussels North Station or @ Leuven you can best take the bus 358 (Leuven-Brussel Noord)/(Brussel Noord-Leuven).
off the bus @ Kortenberg RIJKSWACHT (near the trainstation).
If you want to reach RWY 07R you just step off the train in Zaventem station (NOT the airport!, it's the station behind Nossegem if coming FROM Leuven).
I hope this has helped you a bit rather than confusing you. It's just what I know and how I get to my spots!
Good luck and succes with the spotting!
Best regards: Yannick

When you're in the arrival hall of BRU airport, take the elevators and go down to the lowest level. You'll then be at the trainstation.ketko wrote:Hi!
Thank you very much for detailed guide, but could you help me what to do, if I arrive at airport? How far is the train station form it?
From that train station, take one of the trains that goes to Brussels. Get of at Brussel Noord (the first Brussel station you'll get to). From there on, take one of the trains Bruspotter told you about.
When you arrive at Kortenberg, get out of the left side of the station. Just walk towards the roundabout and then up the hill (not up the bridge). A few minutes later, when you've passed the watertower, you'll have a clear sight on the approach of runway 25L. The walk from Kortenberg to the approach takes approximatly 10 to 12 minutes. You'll be ther before you know it !
Do note that you'll lose lots of time by going to Brussels and then to Kortenberg. It could easily take you up to an hour (depending on when you take the train), but it's still faster than going by foot.
Greetz,


Don't dream your life, live your dream !!!
Why going all the way to Brussels, if you can get off at Zaventem? When you're lucky, runway 02 will be in use and that means only a 15 minutes walk!Andries wrote:From that train station, take one of the trains that goes to Brussels. Get of at Brussel Noord (the first Brussel station you'll get to). From there on, take one of the trains Bruspotter told you about.
Greetz,
Rutger
And what about front park 3?
If you are at the airport, go out at the departure level or arrival level and go to the utmost left parking. Go totally up and you'll have a nice view on 2 out of 3 runways. With a decent zoom, no problem at all!
Also, from there you can walk to the treshhold of runway 07 (is it R or L, I always confuse the numbers). But you'll have to be lucky to get arrivals on that runway. It's a walk of more or less 20 to 25 minutes, my estimate. Not too easy to explain how to get there, but if you're interested, let me know, then i'll give it a shot.
Greets,
Pieter
If you are at the airport, go out at the departure level or arrival level and go to the utmost left parking. Go totally up and you'll have a nice view on 2 out of 3 runways. With a decent zoom, no problem at all!
Also, from there you can walk to the treshhold of runway 07 (is it R or L, I always confuse the numbers). But you'll have to be lucky to get arrivals on that runway. It's a walk of more or less 20 to 25 minutes, my estimate. Not too easy to explain how to get there, but if you're interested, let me know, then i'll give it a shot.
Greets,
Pieter
Very true !rut-her wrote:Why going all the way to Brussels, if you can get off at Zaventem? When you're lucky, runway 02 will be in use and that means only a 15 minutes walk!
Greetz,
Rutger
I didn't mention RWY 02, only 25L approach, simply because 25's are used more often and thus the chances for 25L approach are larger.
Like Flybe said, you can also go to Carpark 3. Very nice view of 25L/07R and 02/20. However, for 02/20 the sun is in your face untill 14:00. afterwards the sun is good. For 25L/07R, the sun is in your face all day long (except the very late evening). When aircraft are landing on this runway, you can make excellent taxi-shots. Note that 300mm or more is recommended for this spot.
Greetz,


Don't dream your life, live your dream !!!