Thalys is a
consortium of the French, Belgian, Dutch & German national railways
formed to run the high-speed trains between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam & Cologne.
1st class seats on Thalys...
2nd class seats on Thalys...
A Thalys
about to leave Brussels...
Facilities on board Thalys...
All Thalys trains have 1st & 2nd class seats and a
cafe-bar. On Thalys, 1st class is marketed as 'Comfort 1' and
2nd class as 'Comfort 2'.
Like Eurostar, advance
reservation is obligatory and special fares apply. Ordinary rail
tickets are not valid. Railpass holders must pay a special fare
costing around 12 euros if your pass covers all the countries you will pass
through. However, these passholder fares aren't generally bookable
online.
Comfort 1 fares include a complimentary meal served
at your seat between Paris & Brussels, or drinks & snacks served at your
seat between Brussels & Amsterdam or Cologne.
There are power sockets for laptops & mobiles
(2-pin, 220v) at all seats in both Comfort 1 & Comfort 2.
WiFi for laptops is available on all Thalys trains,
free of charge in Comfort 1, in Comfort 2 it costs 6.50 euros for 60 minutes or 13 euros
for your whole journey. You can log on and pay on board,
or buy a card in the bar car.
Baby changing facilities are available in cars 7,
17 & 27. There are special family areas in cars 6 & 7. Children
under 12 are no longer allowed to travel alone on Thalys trains.
Wheelchair spaces are provided in cars 1, 11 & 21,
together with wheelchair-accessible toilets. There's more information
for travellers with disabilities at
www.thalys.com.
All luggage must be labelled with your name.
Folding bicycles and bikes in zip-up bike bags no bigger than 120cm x 90cm
are carried, but not undismantled bikes. There's more detailed
information at
www.thalys.com.
For information on taking bikes by train in Europe, see the
bike by train page.
Small dogs & pets in carriers no bigger than 55 x
30 x 30cm travel free, but larger dogs require a special ticket (not bookable
online), see
www.thalys.com
for more details (UK travellers should note that Eurostar does not carry
dogs, see advice here). Guide dogs go
free on both Eurostar & Thalys.
First class lounges at
stations:
At Amsterdam, Cologne, Schiphol & Rotterdam, anyone with a 1st class
international ticket or railpass can use the elegant first class lounge, with
complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks and beer. Unfortunately, in
Paris & Brussels, only holders of special frequent traveller cards can use
the lounge. In the Netherlands, look for signs to the 'NS Hispeed
lounge'. In Germany, look for signs to the 'DB Lounge'.
Cafe-bar car
serving drinks and hot & cold snacks...
An at-seat
meal or snack is included in the 1st class fare on Thalys. This is
breakfast.
1st class
travellers may use the lounges in Amsterdam, Rotterdam & Cologne.
Thalys power car, earlier
type...
Unrefurbished 1st class
seats...
Unrefurbished 2nd class
seats...
Thalys timetables, fares & how
to buy tickets...
You can check Thalys train times & fares at
the Thalys website,
www.thalys.com (you print out your own ticket),
though you may find
www.bahn.de an easier and faster way to check any train
timetable in Europe if you don't want tickets or fares.
