Eurostar (formerly Thalys)

ShowMeTheJourney has anticipated what questions are most often asked about travelling on these Eurostar trains, which were previously operated as Thalys services.

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These trains travel at up to 300 km/h / 185mph on the high speed lines that they use, which are:

• Paris ↔ Brussels
• Antwerpen ↔ Rotterdam
• Leuven ↔ Liege
• Liege ↔ Aachen

Yes - seat reservations are included with any ticket booking.

This isn't seemingly possible.

Yes, they are mandatory (see the info below)

From November 4th 2024, There will be a bar/bistro car, the Eurostar café, which can be used by all passengers during the journey.
Until November 4th, the on-board catering for Standard Class will be provided by vending machines.

Passengers travelling in Premium / Premier Class will receive a complimentary at-seat meal service.

Yes - and accessing the portal is free.

Yes there are sockets for E.U style plugs.

Eurostar does not offer this facility.

The allowance is two items of luggage (max. 75 x 53 x 30 cm) and one item of hand luggage - such as handbags, briefcases and laptop bags

Any excess luggage must be transported in a case that’s no longer than two metres, and may come with a charge of €30 per case.
There’s no weight limit, but each individual passenger must carry their own luggage on to the track / platform; and when boarding the train.

Though what's comparatively unusual is that each larger item of luggage must be labelled.

Yes and they are located in Premium / Premier Class on these trains.

Boarding and Disembarking Assistance is also available, though it should ideally be booked 24hrs in Advance.

Both wheels must be removed and everything must be covered by a non-rigid cover with maximum dimensions of 135 x 85 x 30 cm.

There is no charge for dogs which travel in containers no larger than 45 x 30 x 25 cm.

For other dogs, tickets must be purchased on board from the Train Manager / conductor and they have a flat rate price of €30, the dog must be muzzled and travel on the floor or in your lap.

Guide dogs and assistance dogs travel free of charge.

If you will be taking a journey by Thalys trains our guide will tell you the key things you need to know, from boarding, to making the most of the journey experience.

Thalys is the name of the high speed train service which operate on three international routes:

(1) Paris Nord - Bruxelles Midi/Zuid - Antwerpen Centraal - Rotterdam Centraal - Schiphol Airport - Amsterdam Centraal

(2) Paris Nord - Bruxelles Midi/Zuid - Liege-Guiilemmens - Aachen - Koln/Cologne Hbf - Dusseldorf - Essen - Dortmund

(3) Marne La Valléé - Aeroport CDG - Bruxelles Midi/Zuid - Antwerpen Centraal - Rotterdam Centraal - Schiphol Airport - Amsterdam Centraal

The only DIRECT trains between Paris and both The Netherlands and northern Germany are the Thalys services.
Thalys trains no longer serve Lille.

If you will be aged 26 or under on your travel date you can travel at a discounted rate on Thalys trains.
Those aged 12 - 25 can travel at the most heavily discounted ticket price rate, even when booking online on the travel date - more details are here.

For children aged 11 and under, a flat rate fare is charged for any journey - of €15 in Standard, €20 in Comfort and €30 in Premium, but children aged 11 and under cannot travel solo on Thalys services.

Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for journeys by Thalys train.
Rail pass users will need to have made reservations prior to boarding (see below).

If you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass, you will need to make a reservation prior to boarding.
They can be booked online here.

Ideally arrange your reservations before the day of travel, as rail pass reservations on Thalys trains can sell out - a limited number of reservations per departure will be available to rail pass users.
Rail pass users also have to pay booking fees when using travel desks at stations in Belgium and The Netherlands.

Users of Second Class passes will travel in Standard Class on the Thalys trains, First Class pass users will travel in Comfort Class.

The prices

First class pass users:

• Belgium ↔ Netherlands = €27
• Paris ↔ Belgium = €32
• Germany ↔ Belgium = €32
• Paris ↔ Germany and Netherlands = €37

Second class pass users:

• Belgium ↔ Netherlands = €22
• Paris ↔ Belgium = €27
• Germany ↔ Belgium = €27
• Paris ↔ Germany and Netherlands = €32

The alternatives

Or you can avoid paying the fees by making more complicated journeys on trains on which rail pass users don't have to pay reservation fees.

• Paris to Amsterdam or to Cologne/Koln
• Amsterdam to Paris
• Cologne/Koln to Paris

Aim to be at the station a minimum of 20 mins before departure.
Security checks, including airport style luggage screening, are now usually carried out prior to before boarding Thalys trains in Paris and Belgium
It is your responsibility to allow enough time to pass through the checks, the train won't wait if you are still in line waiting for your bag to pass through security.

Colour scheme aside, externally Thalys trains resemble single deck TGV trains but in contrast to the TGVs, the Thalys trains have 3 classes of seating; Standard, Comfort and Premiere.
From November 4th the classes will be; Eurostar Standard, Eurostar Plus and Eurostar Premier.

Thalys trains have in effect replaced flights between Paris and Bruxelles, which is apt as the Standard Class seating saloons on Thalys trains are more akin to a cabin on an airline, than on virtually any other train.

Most of the seats on Thalys open saloon style, there are no conventional compartments with a door to a side corridor on Thalys trains, but there is a business meeting compartment in Premium Class

The Thalys train interior:

A program of work to refresh the interior of Thalys trains has commenced, so if you are in luck you will travel on such a train (we have yet to have had the pleasure).
The refresh is welcome news, as Thalys trains that have yet to be refurbished, reflect their 20 years of service.
On the yet to be refurbished trains, toilets, power sockets, light switches etc can be temperamental - it’s the high speed that provides any wow factor.

You won’t know if you will be travelling on one of the modernised trains when booking a ticket.

The power cars/engines on the Thalys trains can differ, but the type of power car makes no difference to the coaches (refurbished = red doors, unrefurbished = grey doors).