The Amsterdam-Brussels high-speed train

In July of 2009, NMBS and NS Hispeed presented the new high-speed train which would travel the Amsterdam-Brussels route. The name of this train was introduced for the first time: Fyra.

From 13 December 2009, Thalys started by travelling 7 times a day on the HSL (high-speed track). Between Amsterdam, Schiphol and Rotterdam the high-speed train reaches a maximum speed of 160 kilometres an hour. After Rotterdam the Thalys travels at full speed (300 km/hour). Between Antwerp and Brussels top speed will again be 160 kilomtres an hour after which it will again be able to run at full speed on its way to Paris. Travel time to Paris thus becomes:

• Amsterdam to Paris in 3 hours 18 minutes (used to be 4 hours 09 minutes)
  A travel time gain of 51 minutes
• Rotterdam to Paris in 2 hours 30 minutes (used to be 3 hours 09 minutes)
  A travel time gain of 39 minutes

In the future the Thalys will be able to reach full speed on the entire route which means travel time between Amsterdam and Paris will be even shorter and just 3 hours and 13 minutes.

Thalys is also planning of increasing the number of times it will travel between Amsterdam and Paris. To start with Thalys travels seven times a day but by the end of 2010 Thalys trains will leave Amsterdam to Paris ten times a day.

More facts and figures

• The new HSL-Zuid covers 125 kilometres, 85 of which are high-speed tracks.
• Power supply is 25,000 volts.
• The HSL-Zuid route contains 170 constructions (fly-overs, dive-unders, tunnels, bridges and an aquaduct)
• More about the HSL-Zuid (PDF)
• Fact sheets (zip, July 2007)