JohnnyRooke

Schaerbeek, despite its Clapham Junctionesque size, is a dozy place most of the day. The train service most of the time I lived there was very frequent and punctuated by tannoy announcements which bordered on the frantic, even at 5am. These were particularly amusing for the airport trains which were solemnly announced in all four languages even if the station was deserted. In December 2006 the recast timetable deprived Schaerbeek of most of its more useful trains, especially the airport ones, but many rush hour trains still terminate or start there because of the nearby depot. In late December 2006, two Nivelles-built Series 21 locos stand at the heads of trains to places like Chatelet.