Thalys becomes part of Eurostar Group
From 1 October, Thalys will become part of Eurostar, the international high-speed rail service linking the UK with France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The merger between the two high-speed train operators was under way in 2019 but has entered a new phase this year.
The new Eurostar logo has been adorning the red Thalys trains for several months. While the name Thalys will disappear, the appearance of the trains and services on board will remain unchanged.
Brussels will also continue to play a central role, said Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of the Eurostar Group, when the new logo was unveiled this year. Not only is the group's headquarters located in the Belgian capital, "Brussels is also the centre of our network, where we are less than two hours from all our destinations".
The merger began four years ago. After a delay due to the pandemic, Eurostar Group brought the two high-speed train operators together in May last year. The majority of shares are held by the French railway company SNCF, while Belgium's SNCB has an 18.5 per cent stake. The merged group employs around 2,200 people, has a fleet of 50 trains and operates in five countries: Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the UK.
As a result of the merger, the Thalys brand name, app and website will disappear. Tickets for journeys between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany can now be bought on eurostar.com.
© BELGA PHOTO JAN NAGELS
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