Dutch government to open international connections up to competition
The Dutch ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management will allow competition on the international lines to Brussels, Paris, London and Basel, as well as the service between Amsterdam and Berlin. The move is not without...Read more
‘We protect trains in a way that benefits the overall appearance’
Partner contentIf a train approaches that it is pristine condition, it can mean a few things: it is brand new or it has been washed. However, it can also mean that a protective film has been...Read more
Thalys services stripped down following ‘operational incidents’
Thalys will be offering less services across the Netherlands, Belgium and France “in the coming weeks” as a result of two “operational incidents” earlier this month. This necessitated two additional trains going into maintenance.Read more
Additional high-speed trains from the Netherlands unlikely in coming years
It will not be until 2036 that capacity will increase on the Dutch high-speed railway HSL to accommodate additional international trains, state secretary for infrastructure and water management Vivianne Heijen told parliament this week.Read more
European Commission green lits Eurostar, Thalys merger
The European Commission earlier on Tuesday approved the proposed merger between Thalys and Eurostar, moving the process that was first announced in 2019 one step closer to finalisation.Read more
European operators offer Ukrainian refugees free travel
Train operators from Germany, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Lithuania have announced that refugees from Ukraine can travel for free. Also, a train service by the Czech RegioJet in cooperation with Ukrainian...Read more
Channel tunnel used even less in second corona year
The Channel Tunnel between France and the United Kingdom was used less last year than in 2020. This is what the tunnel’s manager Getlink reported. Eurostar trains carried a third fewer passengers through the tunnel...Read more
Thalys chief explains post-merger name: ‘Eurostar is strongest brand’
Thalys is a well-known player in European high-speed trains. The name of the international red train will disappear however with the upcoming merger with Eurostar, but not its characteristic colour. Bertrand Gosselin, Thalys CEO, explains...Read more
Thalys presents new design in Amsterdam
Thalys presented its newly designed train in Amsterdam and various other stations in the Netherlands and Belgium on Tuesday. The train offers 28 extra seats, 15 percent more luggage space, room for bikes and a...Read more
Thalys to be renamed Eurostar in the future
High-speed train operators Eurostar and Thalys are resuming plans to merge. The merged company will be based in Belgium and the Thalys brand will eventually disappear.Read more
‘Thalys does nothing to reduce its costs’
ColumnCOLUMN – Too often, the price of a ticket on an airline is cheaper than the price of a train ticket between similar cities. Airlines have a tradition to lure passengers by giving good services....Read more
NS International and Thalys staff threaten to strike
NS International and Thalys staff are threatening to go on strike if NS does not present a better offer to improve the employment conditions of conductors soon. A final offer that included a promise of...Read more
Head of Eurostar: use aviation tax to reduce track access charges
Eurostar boss Jacques Damas is calling for an aviation tax, the proceeds of which will be used to reduce the costs to use rail infrastructure. In this way, the price of train tickets can be...Read more