I plan to attend the 09 Belgian GP. I'm staying in Brussels and I would like to know the best way to travel to and from the track at Spa. I understand that driving can be very frustrating so I would like to know my options. Is there a train, and if so how far is the station from the track? Is their any organized transportation to the track from Brussels etc. ?
Thanks
Full Version: Brussels/Spa commute
There are trains that run to Spa, from Brussels though you'd have to change trains at ...was it Verviers(?) I think halfway. Problem starts when you arrive at Spa though. There are shuttle buses from Spa to the track, however they run on the same roads as other cars and don't have special lanes or escape routes, and are invariably stuck in the same traffic jams 
that run all the way from Spa to the track.
There's some kind of park-and-ride system they introduced, at least there was when we went in 2004, where cars are diverted onto country roads and are required to park in a cow field from where a shuttle bus takes them to the track. Not to be recommended either as the journey takes forever, it's total chaos and it actually takes longer to get to the track than sitting it out in the traffic jams.
I'd recommend coming by car unless you can come across organised transportation directly from Brussels of which I'm unaware.
Oh and don't let the police bully you, they tend to have a rather 'abrupt' manner in the total chaos that is parking near the track.
Enjoy that race weekend.
that run all the way from Spa to the track.There's some kind of park-and-ride system they introduced, at least there was when we went in 2004, where cars are diverted onto country roads and are required to park in a cow field from where a shuttle bus takes them to the track. Not to be recommended either as the journey takes forever, it's total chaos and it actually takes longer to get to the track than sitting it out in the traffic jams.
I'd recommend coming by car unless you can come across organised transportation directly from Brussels of which I'm unaware.
Oh and don't let the police bully you, they tend to have a rather 'abrupt' manner in the total chaos that is parking near the track.
Enjoy that race weekend.
Hi mate,
I went in 2007 and drove. Caught the ferry and drove up through Brussels. Was easy.
We camped in the town of Stavelot and drove each day. We parked up the top of the circuit, right up the top of the hill. We found parking in some yokels back yard and it wasn't too much of a problem to walk up the hill and enter the circuit at the end of Radillion. I think trying to get close to Spa itself is a massive hassle.
Leaving after the race was a bit of a nightmare if I'm honest. Getting out of the immediate track area wasn't awful, but as soon as we hit the motorway we were bottled up in a traffic jam with everything from team vehicles to massive motorhomes to motorbikes. Out brand new VW Polo overheated in the traffic, which gave lots of other Grand Prix fans the chance to rubber neck at our steaming motor!
So driving is possible, but be prepared for a bit of time in traffic.
Better still, factor in one more night in Spa and drive back on the Monday. You can be drinking nice Belgian beers and chowing down on hanffuls of frittes whilst all the overheated fans are trying to get out.
Hope this helps.
I went in 2007 and drove. Caught the ferry and drove up through Brussels. Was easy.
We camped in the town of Stavelot and drove each day. We parked up the top of the circuit, right up the top of the hill. We found parking in some yokels back yard and it wasn't too much of a problem to walk up the hill and enter the circuit at the end of Radillion. I think trying to get close to Spa itself is a massive hassle.
Leaving after the race was a bit of a nightmare if I'm honest. Getting out of the immediate track area wasn't awful, but as soon as we hit the motorway we were bottled up in a traffic jam with everything from team vehicles to massive motorhomes to motorbikes. Out brand new VW Polo overheated in the traffic, which gave lots of other Grand Prix fans the chance to rubber neck at our steaming motor!
So driving is possible, but be prepared for a bit of time in traffic.
Better still, factor in one more night in Spa and drive back on the Monday. You can be drinking nice Belgian beers and chowing down on hanffuls of frittes whilst all the overheated fans are trying to get out.
Hope this helps.
Personally I would drive. Never had really any problem with traffic other than a slight bit of congestion similar or better than what I have experienced at other venues.
This may help.
Visit Spa Francorchamps
Cheers,
Asphalt_World
This may help.
Visit Spa Francorchamps
Cheers,
Asphalt_World
QUOTE (f1jinx @ May 14 2009, 03:52) 
I plan to attend the 09 Belgian GP. I'm staying in Brussels and I would like to know the best way to travel to and from the track at Spa. I understand that driving can be very frustrating so I would like to know my options. Is there a train, and if so how far is the station from the track? Is their any organized transportation to the track from Brussels etc. ?
this year they have a 'Mobility Solution' that you can buy with the bronze ticket. see:http://www.spagrandprix.com/en/pages/tribune-bronze.aspx
QUOTE
Mobility Solution
The « Mobility Solution » is a package who will give you access to the circuit on the Sunday 30th of August 2009 to see the ING Belgian Grand Prix without parking, stress of the travel and trafic problem.
This solution will offer you a free travel from:
Bruxelles : 7am (airport, « Nord » train station, « Midi » train station)
...
Schedules of return to all the above mentioned cities are fixed from 5pm.
The coach will drop and take you back directly inside the enclosure of the circuit at the ‘Ster’ entry (behind the Silver 2)
The « Mobility Solution » is a package who will give you access to the circuit on the Sunday 30th of August 2009 to see the ING Belgian Grand Prix without parking, stress of the travel and trafic problem.
This solution will offer you a free travel from:
Bruxelles : 7am (airport, « Nord » train station, « Midi » train station)
...
Schedules of return to all the above mentioned cities are fixed from 5pm.
The coach will drop and take you back directly inside the enclosure of the circuit at the ‘Ster’ entry (behind the Silver 2)
I am also now taking the train from Brussels to Spa, driving was the first choice.
If the traffic isn't really a problem then taking a shuttle bus won't be that bad from the train station... hopefully.
I think its going to rain though. Oh well it will be an interesting race.
If the traffic isn't really a problem then taking a shuttle bus won't be that bad from the train station... hopefully.
I think its going to rain though. Oh well it will be an interesting race.
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