Off all the major train stations of Belgium, why don’t Brussel-Midi/Zuid get a major refurbishment?
Something that I feel gets quite glanced over is how much Belgium takes care of its major rail hubs. Oostende, Gent St-P, Antwerpen-C, Luik/Liège, Mons, Mechelen, Leuven, and soon Ottignies and Kortrijk. And while the works usually last very long, the end product is always much better with a cleaner, modern, more spacious and fancy station. Even smaller stations like Diest, Nivelles, St-Job, Veset, Liedekerke, also get extensive refurbishments.
And YET, Brussels Midi, the most important station of Belgium and the international railway gate, seems to be completely left out of those programs. Like I know the main hallway isn't that bad and very functional, although they could do something with the lighting because right now it looks like an airport concourse. They could at the very least overhaul platforms and canopies of tracks 7 to 21. And even for the international platforms (1 to 6) they could really tear down the ugly canopy they currently have to build something that feels more welcoming.
Like imagine if Brussels Midi looked more like Leuven or Gent or Mons stations, I feel like its reputation would be half as bad.
Posted Sep 12, 2026, 8:29 AM UTC