History
Thalys International is a company with a European focus based in Brussels.
Its history, though relatively brief, has already been marked by numerous developments that have improved its network and its services.
Fly over the timeline to visualize information...
1987
Decision to create a high-speed rail link between
Paris, Bruxelles, Amsterdam and Cologne.
1993
Creation of first international travel group, “IPM”,
with the purpose of defining a shared concept and developing the organizational
structure for the future rail company.
1995
Creation of Westrail International, a Belgian cooperative company and joint subsidiary of the SNCF and the SNCB, which is joined by a subsidiary created specifically by the Dutch and German rail companies (Thalys Netherlands and the DB, respectively). The purpose of this company is to create and manage a high-speed network covering Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
2 june 1996
First Thalys Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam line. From Paris, the trip to Brussels takes 2h03, and the trip to Amsterdam takes 4h47.
December 14, 1997
Thalys lines become a true network. Service is started on the high-speed Paris-Brussels line with a total travel time of only one hour and twenty-five minutes. Travel time between Paris and Amsterdam is also reduced by one-half hour. Service is extended to Germany, with lines to Cologne and Aix-La-Chapelle. In Belgium, trains are offered to Namur, Charleroi, Bruges, Gand and Ostende. .
december 19, 1998
Thalys Neige (“Snow”) offers service to winter recreation areas from the Tarentaise Valley to Bourg St. Maurice..
Mai 1999
Westrail International becomes Thalys
International.
Nnovembre 28, 1999
Inauguration of the Thalys
Bruxelles – Aéroport CDG 2 TGV – Marne-la-Vallée -
Chessy line.
Summer 2000
Thalys Soleil (“Sun”) line
created, with service to Valence.
2002
Thalys Soleil line extended to
Marseille and Avignon.
Summer 2003
First Thalys Nuits d’Eté (“Summer
Nights”) trains operate on the Brussels
- Marne-la-Vallée ine in the context of
the company’s partnership with Disney.
December 15, 2003
Inauguration of the Paris
– Bruxelles National Airport Line.
September 2004
Thalys transports its 40 millionth passenger.
2005
- Thalys offers passengers free wi-fi connection on board its trains
- First ever joint project involving Thalys and Eurostar
- Partnership launched with AVV, the public transport network of Aachen
2006
- Thalys is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
2007
- Entrance of the DB in the capital of Thalys International
- Dematerialisation of tickets with Ticketless
2008
- Sale of high-speed Internet access on board Thalys.
Thalystory.com
In the tradition of the great trains that have impressed international travellers down through the ages, Thalys, since its inception, has played an active role in breaching frontiers within the European Union.
The history of Thalys is also its future and everything we provide to make your trips more pleasant.
We share a passion for comfort, excellence and above all travelling.
Please feel free to share your own passions with us!
http://www.thalystory.com
