If you have not visited Belgium or France, you may not know about Eurostar and Thalys.
I love the two companies because of their excellence in operation.
The short answer is:
Eurostar and Thalys fill complementary but distinct roles in Europe’s high-speed rail network.
Eurostar provides the vital connections under the Channel, while Thalys excels at quickly linking major hubs across Western Europe.
What is the Difference Between Eurostar and Thalys?
When looking at the high-speed rail options in Europe, you’ll notice Eurostar and Thalys services are quite different in terms of routes and destinations served, despite both offering premium trains at speeds over 300 km/hr.
Eurostar is the train you would take to travel from London across the English Channel to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and other major cities.
Boarding at iconic stations like London St Pancras or Paris Gare du Nord, you pass through customs and zip through the Channel Tunnel at up to 300 km/hr on your way to your destination city just hours away.
In contrast, Thalys trains allow you to travel quickly and comfortably between hubs across France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands – but do not offer any routes to the United Kingdom.
You’ll find yourself traveling busy routes like Paris to Cologne or Amsterdam to Brussels at blurring speeds up to 320 km/hr, but remaining within mainland Europe.
Eurostar’s routes focus on shorter cross-Channel journeys under 500 miles, perfect for quick getaways from London to Paris or Brussels.
Thalys caters more to longer intra-Europe trips like Paris to Düsseldorf at over 500 miles in length.
For frequency of daily departures along major corridors like London-Brussels or Paris-Amsterdam, Eurostar leads the way.
Thalys focuses its service on key intercity express links rather than trying to connect every destination.
Traveling by Eurostar requires clearing passport control as you cross the border between the UK and the European mainland.
Thalys trains operate only within Europe’s Schengen Area, so no border checks are required.
The Merge between Eurostar and Thalys
For years, Eurostar and Thalys’ high-speed train firms look set to merge.
According to trade magazine IRJ, merger plans have been presented for approval to the boards of their respective owners: SNCF of France and SNCB of Belgium.
Eurostar is a high-speed operator taking travelers from London to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris.
It also operates seasonal direct trains to the South of France.
Meanwhile, Thalys operates high-speed services linking Paris Nord with Brussels, Amsterdam, and Cologne.
Here is what I want you to know about these train companies:
Thalys
The “Green Speed” merger initiative will provide Eurostar and Thalys with favorable publicity, and both will benefit from economies of scale.
But what about the end user?
Both operators say this project means “seamless travel for passengers with one ticket covering any journey across the network and better connections between trains.”
Already I have seen Thalys link the twin hubs of Air France and KLM.
I strongly believe that Thalys will be used more by KLM to carry Brussels-Schiphol travelers.
Finally, it is expected, subject to negotiations and the political situation, which Eurostar will run directly between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and London by mid-December at the very earliest.
Both Dutch stations have special Eurostar terminals but they have remained unused since 2018.
At present London-bound travelers must change trains at Brussels Midi for immigration/security checks.
SNCF Group rail companies Eurostar and Thalys have formalized their merger through the creation of Eurostar Group, a new holding company.
The move marks the first big step for this new player in Europe’s sustainable high-speed mobility market.
Eurostar
In different news media, I read that Eurostar Group now holds 100% of shares in Eurostar International Limited and THI Factory SA (Thalys).
The two companies will continue to operate as fully functioning rail companies, headquartered in London and Brussels respectively.
Eurostar Group is owned by:SNCF Voyageurs1 (55.
75%), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (19.
31%), SNCB2 (18.
5%), and funds managed by Federated Hermes Infrastructure3 (6.
44%)
According to the news, the shareholders chose Eurostar CEO Jacques Damas as Chief Executive Officer of Eurostar Group.
An executive committee representing both Eurostar and Thalys will support him.
Two high-speed train companies are joining forces to create a rail giant that will serve five countries across the continent.
The Future of Eurostar and Thalys
Eurostar and Thalys will combine into a single operator connecting the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany after the European Commission approved the merger on Tuesday.
It was first announced in 2019 but the pandemic caused ticket sales to drop overnight, pushing back the plans.
Both companies suffered financial difficulties with Eurostar nearly going out of business.
Now the decision has been approved by the Commission which found that it would not raise any concerns under EU competition rules, with very little impact on the structure of the rail market.
What is Project Green Speed?
Thalys currently runs high-speed routes between France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, while Eurostar runs services through the Channel Tunnel from London to Paris, Brussels and, Amsterdam.
Both companies are majority-owned by French train company SNCF.
The challenge of the climate emergency and the demand for eco-responsible transport require an ambitious response.
By proposing to pool the combined strengths of Eurostar and Thalys we want to respond to this challenge.
The creation of a European high-speed rail firm gives the company’s 18.
5 million passengers an attractive alternative to road and air transport.
What does the merger of Eurostar and Thalys mean for passengers?
The main benefits for consumers will be better scheduling, ticketing, and a common loyalty program across the entire unified network.
It will be easier for passengers too, for example, take a Eurostar service to Paris then connect with a Thalysservice to travel on to Germany.
In the future, there could also be services that run through from London via Brussels to cities currently served by Thalys, including Cologne or Frankfurt.
But all UK-bound travelers will have to pass through border control before getting on the train.
It means that these stations will have to add processing terminals like the ones at Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras which could take some time to implement.
Why should you travel with any of these trains?
I like sightseeing and taking note, which means that I want a transportation means that can offer me breathtaking views of my chosen destinations.
Since, I will want to travel with others, the trains have become my favorite in Europe.
Eurostar and Thalys may have merged, but they still offer me the luxury and comfort I desire.
Finally, the trains run effectively and timely to allow me to visit different countries within a few hours.
I can decide to have dinner in Paris and breakfast in Belgium, and I will accomplish them without missing out on the fun.
Don’t forget to take pictures when you take a train ride.
FAQs
What is a Thalys train?
Thalys is a French-Belgian high-speed train operator originally built around the LGV Nord high-speed line between Paris and Brussels.
This track is shared with Eurostar trains from Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam to London via Lille and the Channel Tunnel and French domestic TGV trains.
Is Thalys a bullet train?
The Thalys high-speed train travels 300 km per hour to connect 17 cities across Western Europe.
Thalys trains are well known for their efficient travel times and excellent service.
