A restautant coach is really needed on Thalys services to Germany (5 hours from Paris to Dortmund) and Netherlands (3h20 from Paris to Amsterdam) especially that all ICE trains have a restaurant or a bistro and I also see as negative point the fact that footrests were removed in second class on Ruby.
indeed what I meant is that the 3h40 is probably not the most rapid route between Bruxelles and Dortmund. It should be much shorter a train trip (269 km by car...) between those 2 cities.
The bar car is the heart and soul of any train where passengers interact, socialize, flirt and learn new things from each other. Vending machines are impersonal and often don't work. I'm glad Thalys had a bar car when I rode in 2008. One of the smartest things Amtrak ever did was to remove coach sets from cafe cars on Northeast Corridor trains in the 90's.
That'll work really well in the US, where people are really outgoing with each other. On top, Amtrak services are often (outside the NEC) a novelty rather than a mode of transport due to travel time, so all the passengers are really in the vacation mood and therefore talkative. I doubt that removing the bar from the Thalys will have such a large impact because of the different culture and use.
@@marco23pJust to be honest, I prefer having a manned bar instead of vending machines, just like I hated the decision made by TFL to close all manned ticket office on all Tube stations few years ago. It would be nicer if they convert the bar into proper restaurant car like on DB ICE trains and SBB IC/IR/EC trains.
Meanwhile Japan has even removed vending machines from their _Shinkansen_ (they're probably thinking you could takeaway food at the train stations before you board instead, though heating may not always be available)
On the bar i completely disagree, remember that the whole point of the Thalys brand isnt just the relation between Paris and Bruxelles (which is only 1hr) but also Paris - amsterdam - Dortmund - Koln, is a coffee machine enough for a 4-5 hours trip ? Not sure at all
@@PaulCashman Yep, those kind of strategy are understandable on really short trips (like on Paris - Lille via tgv there is no bar but it’s only a 1hr trip) but how can you remove the bar on long distances ? Or maybe that ruby Thalys is only supposed to run between Paris and Brussels ?
totally agree with you! in my youth we took the Trans Europ Express (Etoile du Nord and Ile de France) from Rotterdam to Paris several times ( and it had a great catering! (souvenirs précieux)
Or if if you go all the way to the Alpes for skying in the winter. I canr imagine being inside a train for more than 5 houres in which they only provide a small coffee and a waffle lol
I am from India. It will take fifty years to reach this level of traveling. For information our Railways carrying millions of passengers daily. Great service indeed!
6:03: I knew it. "Modernization" and refurbisment mean always increased capacity which neccessarily means reduced space... Sorry, I generally don't appreciate this. But in case of Thalys the power outlets and USB ports in front of the passenger instead of somewhere underneath is a good idea! And so is the cup holder.
Looks like they put in more rows of seating plus extra seating in the bar car? I read that SJ is going the same way with the X2000 refurbishment, more seats in the same space. While Thalys does away with the bar, you still have a restaurant car on ICE ...
@@uncinarynin Yes, there are stilll dining cars in ICE trains. Their average journeys are longer anyway than those of the Thalys. But the general comfort in the ICE 4 has decreased in comparison with ICE 1 + 2.
I agree about the seat pitch. The old interior did have a capacity problem, but leg room wasn't even that good in standard class to begin with. It's quite a shame because this redesign definitely was necessary.
This isn't always true. The refurbishment of the CP Class 4000 (Alfa Pendular) was everything for comfort and ride quality. They improved the bar quality even!
Great video. I hope the New Acela gets this kind of debut. You can't ever enjoy such a meal and look at scenery like that on a plane. The USA needs more trains.
@@prop_thunder_therealone For all of you beating up on AMTRAK - blame the politicians (the majority of Democrats in particular). They (aside from Joe Biden) are addicted to air travel - witness the reluctance to give up "Congressional Airlines" AKA Reagan National Airport. It is not as if Dulles and Marshall BWI can't take up the slack; BWI certainly can, it's not THAT much further for anyone that either drives or takes mass transit - I know from doing both. In fact, I can't take a long-distance nonstop from Reagan National (but can from Marshall BWI or Dulles; I have from BWI, in fact).
I don't like this idea of replacing onboard catering with vending machines. It's horrible customer service, especially on intercity (and international!) trains
I always enjoy your trip reports. The ruby looks really good, great seats, new carpets. They should keep the full bar car on the longer journeys to Amsterdam, Cologne and Dortmund. I have never travelled Thalys before and I would like to do it premium class. The food looked really delicious, complimented by chouffe beer. Thanks for sharing.
I’m getting the train in Ho scale and we’ll I had to see the real thing. Never been to Europe but I’m fascinated by the passenger trains how sleek and nice they are. And I have to say if I ever go to Europe I would look forward to riding this train. And also got to say I love the video definitely subscribing
I am a regular Thalys traveller between Amsterdam and Paris, and i have to say that if you are tall, you will no longer fit, as the gap has become smaller. I travelled few times already with 'Ruby' and yes it is prettier, but the old one is defenetly more comfortable and looking less cheap. Btw i am 193cm and i no longer fit.
I am 192 and the old interior was okay for me. The seatpitch wasnt great but the seat itself was extremely comfortable so that compensates. On picture, I think the old interior looks better than than the new one. But I definitely noticed the old interior needed a bit of a 'fresh-up'. I hope they'll continue to have the old trains operating for a while, kinda weird that they reduce the seatpitch while the population is getting taller.
You are right! I also saw the Ruby train connected to the old thalys passing through Antwerp centraal station bound for Paris. The livery is indeed shinny and the interior was increadibly from the outside.
Great review! I think it is definitely a hit - both interior and exterior look great. I can't believe how good the lunch they served you was! That is really top notch service.
Thats a really nice looking Thalys train. Ive travelled on the old units from Brussels to Rotterdam. Great press gifts Im envious. Great video thanks and respect.
I was very skeptical with the initial announcement of Thalys being refurbished again, but the result doesn't look bad at all: The seats look decent. Maaaaiiiiissss, je suis absolument ravi de voir que La Chouffe est servi à bord des Thalys :D Merci pour ce video les gars! Greeting from Canada!
This new upgraded train looks very nice. The one and only time I rode Thalys was from Paris to Cologne in 1999. I don’t remember much about the interior design, but the macaroni and cheese with ham was very good, lol
Greay video! The Thalys looks great! A bit like a present while travelling. And I like the fact there is room for bikes. And compared to the Thalys the ICE (and Eurostar) looks so COLD...
The new train looks very smart and comfortable, but the removal of the buffet car is a retrogade step in my opinion. Okay, there is a machine, but machines have a habit of becoming 'out of service'! I agree with you about the riding qualites of modern trains though, the ride on the Japanese class 800 trains on LNER and Great Western is very poor.
@@freewal Thalys also does longer journeys, cologne to Brussels or Paris-Dortmund are both 3+ hours iirc, as is Paris-Amsterdam. On a trip like that you can justify more than just a coffee and a pack of sweets from a vending machine.
@@freewalThat's ridiculous. It isn't just 1:22 hr, they only took the train to Brussels. The whole trip to Amsterdam is 3,5 hours. For that, and for the price of my ticket, I need the the bar compartiment.
@@fetzie23Actually even the route of this film is not this short, it's the train from Paris to Amsterdam,which takes 3,5 hours. The guy filming just went off at Brussels.
I have a question: Is it a completely new livery/refurbishment for all sets or just some dedicated to a side "premium" service apart from the standard Thalys service (with the standard livery)? Kind of like the opposite between standard TGVs and Ouigo: instead of a low-fare service, a exclusive/premium service. Great video though!
The difference is the livery and new refurbished interior, which has less lenght between the seats, no meal service (the buffet coach is now equiped with vending machines).
Another great video! It’s a beautiful train and the red colour is amazing. I really like the power outlets being at an easy height to reach and the idea of having a floor sensor for opening doors is inspired. However, food “service” from vending machines is just sad. I agree that for a trip of around an hour that might be acceptable but what happens if this equipment is to be used on longer routes?
Foot space in 1st class for the two seats looks really tight. Bin in the way and they kept the footrest which reduces clearance even more. Solo seat for me then.
12:58 I know companies are now currently removing graffiti on trains to add anti-graffiti coatings but I do find graffiti on rolling stock to be a bit unsatisfying
Don't come to Spain if you hate graffiti... almost every regional or commuter train is covered in it, as well as freight locomotives and rolling stock. It's a real nightmare. I have nearly stopped travelling by train because of how uncomfortable it makes me feel, not just the painted windows, but also how those thugs sabotage trains with passengers inside. What an utter disgrace...
@@osasunaitor In my country graffiti sparked a criminal investigation as the gov't was concerned that it meant that the train depot's security had been breached, & whether the graffiti artist could sabotage the rolling stock too e.g. tamper its brakes
@@lzh4950 that's interesting, I hope we would take things so seriously here as well... but no, vandals break into train depots day after day and nobody cares. May I ask what country you are from?
I hope the new trains are taking into account the limited range of motion for some travelers. My elderly mom nearly couldn’t get onto a train in Belgium during our last visit due to the step height. I was trying to manage the bags, so my hands were full trying to lift them onboard. I’d like it if you could address some of these issues with train travel in a normal setting, like when people are crowding onto a train and there is help available.
_my favorite part of this video, the goodie bags and also the train’s updated designs and upgrades_ Edit : my only language I ever know is English and I’m scared of how to say “thank you”, “beg your pardon/pardon me?”, “hello/hi”, “excuse me?” And also “can I ask you for a little favor?” In French though
They learned from German Train Designers, form follows function. Many TGV have the Look of my grandmas living room and have the same functionality 😂! Well done Thalys.
It’s very good to have a good and full meal in Premium class for a 1h22 ride, it’s much less good to ride more than 3 hours in Standard Class from France to Germany or the Netherlands at meal time in Standard class and to have a chocolate bar, if the only machine is correctly working.... I appreciate your review, I appreciate the high level of catering and design. But don’t forget the majority of Thalys traveller’s don’t travel that way, and the bar is highly appreciated in south and east Europe.... Bad idea from Thalys to remove it. And it’s also a job who totally disappears: Thalys’baristas ..... ☹️☹️
You can bring a sandwich with you that you bought in the station for half the price, you know. Obviously with closer seat pitch and eliminating bar/restaurant space they are cramming more people in, which holds ticket prices down. If you have the money to spend you can get a Premium ticket.
@@emjayay Cool but no. It's about providing the service. It's one of the things that make trains trains. Why can't thalys keep the bar, on an international train but operators like CP and RENFE still maintain their bar coaches on local InterCity's
Mega top Thanks a lot for this cool presentations! Seul regret : le bar ! J ai un super souvenir d'un trajet Paris > Bruxelles avec un ex-collègue uniquement dans cette voiture pour éviter un compartiment "Fumeur" (seul dispo dans le cadre d un rebooking de dernière minute).
Absolutely magnificent! It looks like they are doing things right, which more transportation companies need to do... I really like the livery, the colors remind me slightly of the old Rock Island Rockets which I think were some of the best looking trains in the U S. Again, I am so jealous living in the States where Amtrak is pretty much the only choice...
It seems to me that this video was somehow sponsored by Thalys, despite them saying the opposite. -He was happy about the decreased seat pitch, something that always upsets him in other trains. -He was happy about the cafeteria being substituted by two crappy vending machines, when he's always very vocal against this type of measures -...
Great video, thanks! But it was really time for an internal renewal, at least for that Thalys that I went from Aachen to Paris and back last November. I hope that the new Thalys coaches will soon make it to German destinations, too! 🙂
I have to agree with my fellow commenters. While the Thalys Bar does not have the same standard as DB in their ICE trains, they still offered a decent variety on snacks and drinks. Do you even have Beer in that vending machine? Wine? I don't think so. It was very nice to start the holiday with a nice cold beer while riding 350 km/h. And on long journeys the dining car is absolutely needed!
Funny how a low-budget operator such has Leo Express can offer fresh meals in every class, and lie-flat seats in first class on domestic routes, but the insanely overpriced operators in France can only offer a vending machine and reduced seat pitch on international routes.
I'm a little conflicted. This is clearly an big improvement as the age of the interior was one of the weak points of the old Thalys, and this looks way more modern. And as you said, extra luggage space and bike space really was needed. However, leg room has never really been a strong point in Thalys standard class, so to see seat pitch being reduced is worrying. Allthough it must be said that capacity was a problem on the previous Thalys interior. I don't really have an opinion on the bar disappearing as I've never really seen it full nor have I visited it often. I also wonder what will happen to this interior since the Thalys brand is set to disappear.
The train looks good. Your beard looks good too. Of ALL the trains you have ridden in, in various countries, I wonder what you think of our Amtrak trains. I think American trains look pretty worn, weak, and filthy when compared with trains in the rest of the developed world. American political and business leaders seem less interested in clean and efficient electric trains, and more interested in the highly polluting domestic airline industry, automobiles, and more and more paved roadways they cannot maintain. It's SAD in America.
Luckily things are improving just very slowly and plus knowing their age Simply Railway will definitely return to ride Brightline’s BrightRed between Orlando and Miami and the Avelia Liberty on the NEC. And then further in the future (post-2025) you have Texas Central’s Shinkansen between Dallas and Houston, and then CAHSR will be using a US Version of the ICE Trains in the Central Valley EDIT: Removed autocorrect’s shenanigans
@@Eurobazz Ah then here’s quick run down of the projects: - Amtrak’s New Acela (Avelia Liberty, Alstom): Max line speed 270kmh. It has independent track plans but Amtrak being Amtrak it’s hard to find out when or the funds they have put towards it. The model is scheduled to enter service early next year. - Brightline Orlando-Miami (SCB-40, Siemens): Max line speed of 220-240kmh. It has dedicated tracks from Orlando eastward to the freight line and part of the funding is for double tracking and some places triple tracking the freight corridor it will run along towards Miami and vice versa. Funds for electrification are beginning to be collected and the current infra is being futureproofed for when that day comes. Construction is moving smoothly and quickly, with expected opening in the Summer of next year - CAHSR Central Valley (Custom ICE, Siemens): Max line speed of 300kmh. My worries about it is that it’s single tracked and serves neither LA, the Bay, nor Sacramento in its first segments. The line does have good detail on maps but double tracking the route is still iffy. Due to funding issues and construction delays the opening date would be after 2026 somewhere. - Texas Central Houston-Dallas (Shinkansen N700S, Kawasaki): Max line speed of 330kmh. Its speed and line plans are great and concerns about connectivity are being discussed along with future line studies to San Antonio and then upward towards Austin and potentially form a triangle. Much like CAHSR, it had funding issues and some delays and is also scheduled for an opening also somewhere after 2026.
I was on it 3 weeks ago its amazingly quiet , like floating on a cloud and plenty of room and comfortable as i am a bigger guy and had no issues with comfort. I fell asleep on it a few times. The only thing i dont get is instead of reducing the bar capacity why did they not engineer another coach to increase capacity instead of reducing the size of the bar.
I am not a huge fan of the color, but I wonder if I am missing some heritage element (similar to Hankyu in Japan) where the red represents the historical color of the railways?
I'm super impressed at the ride quality, hardly any vibrations at high speed! I remember when I took the new Eurostar train, the shaking and rattling was pretty bad and my dad and I both got motion sickness. Hats off to Thalys for an impressive product! As for the dinning car removal, I have mixed feelings, but Japan seems to be ok with just vending machines and a trolly service on the Shinkansen so if they can make it work, I'm sure Thalys can as well ✊
The wheel system used by Thalys (French TGV) is very different from the system used by Eurostar Siemens. On French TGVs the wheels are mounted between the train carriages. On Siemens trains the wheels are mounted under the train carriages. The French system is more silent and smooth.
I'm sure you are right, but I've been on Thalys and ICE and didn't notice. Both seemed quite smooth and quiet at top speed. (No Eurostar to compare.) In the US the normal DC-NYC train is shockingly rough riding and vibrates sometimes. Old suspension design I assume and crap tracks. The Acela on the same tracks is far better but not up to Thalys or ICE standards, again probably the crap tracks.
a vending machine on a non-japanese train is a surprise, but i suppose it's a logical move since the trip doesn't last very long. you guys still have serviced lunch at least. in Japan you have to buy takeout bentos at the station of departure if you really need to eat something along the way.
Thalys have done better in re-desiging the windows in the ex-bar coach For example, Renfe didn't touch the windows in the ex-cafeteria coaches on the S-112 trains refurbished for Avlo service. Does anyone know what will happen with the Thalys PBA sets? Also refurbishment or new ones?
All these standardisations are leading to a certain type of high speed train all over the globe.....There are nice, of course....still I wish that some local trains to remain as vintage and high quality image of the yesterday....
Great video as always, but not a fan. Less legroom, harder seats and removal of the bar and barista. As always with modern upgrades it’s all about getting more people in and less comfort 👎
I have a different way of thinking about "seat pitch." I am a great fan of the seats on Amtrak NE Corridor. It is not simply a measure of the distance between my knees and the seat in front of me but also the ease of getting in and out of the seat. On Amtrak, one can stand upright between the seats. One can move from the window seat to the aisle without discomfiting one's fellow passenger. There are few metrics on which American trains are better than European ones but on the space between seats, there is simply on comparison.
A restautant coach is really needed on Thalys services to Germany (5 hours from Paris to Dortmund) and Netherlands (3h20 from Paris to Amsterdam) especially that all ICE trains have a restaurant or a bistro and I also see as negative point the fact that footrests were removed in second class on Ruby.
5 hours ??? Paris-Bruxelles : 315 km in 1h20, Bruxelles-Dortmund : 275 km in 3h40 ???
Isn't it more like 4 hours rather than 5 hours ?
@@jandron94 Thalys departs Dormund 06:30 and arrives in Paris 12:05, total 5:35h
Bruxelles Dortmund is not high speed I imagine (if the line exist I guess for some reason they can't use it)
@@jandron94 can you count? 1.20 + 3.40 is not 4 hours
indeed what I meant is that the 3h40 is probably not the most rapid route between Bruxelles and Dortmund.
It should be much shorter a train trip (269 km by car...) between those 2 cities.
The bar car is the heart and soul of any train where passengers interact, socialize, flirt and learn new things from each other. Vending machines are impersonal and often don't work. I'm glad Thalys had a bar car when I rode in 2008. One of the smartest things Amtrak ever did was to remove coach sets from cafe cars on Northeast Corridor trains in the 90's.
That'll work really well in the US, where people are really outgoing with each other. On top, Amtrak services are often (outside the NEC) a novelty rather than a mode of transport due to travel time, so all the passengers are really in the vacation mood and therefore talkative.
I doubt that removing the bar from the Thalys will have such a large impact because of the different culture and use.
@@marco23pJust to be honest, I prefer having a manned bar instead of vending machines, just like I hated the decision made by TFL to close all manned ticket office on all Tube stations few years ago. It would be nicer if they convert the bar into proper restaurant car like on DB ICE trains and SBB IC/IR/EC trains.
Meanwhile Japan has even removed vending machines from their _Shinkansen_ (they're probably thinking you could takeaway food at the train stations before you board instead, though heating may not always be available)
She is a beautiful train I absolutely love Thalys
On the bar i completely disagree, remember that the whole point of the Thalys brand isnt just the relation between Paris and Bruxelles (which is only 1hr) but also Paris - amsterdam - Dortmund - Koln, is a coffee machine enough for a 4-5 hours trip ? Not sure at all
Fully agree with you. This is not a good idea.
I was wondering about that, since these are fairly long-distance trains by European standards.
@@PaulCashman Yep, those kind of strategy are understandable on really short trips (like on Paris - Lille via tgv there is no bar but it’s only a 1hr trip) but how can you remove the bar on long distances ? Or maybe that ruby Thalys is only supposed to run between Paris and Brussels ?
totally agree with you! in my youth we took the Trans Europ Express (Etoile du Nord and Ile de France) from Rotterdam to Paris several times ( and it had a great catering! (souvenirs précieux)
Or if if you go all the way to the Alpes for skying in the winter. I canr imagine being inside a train for more than 5 houres in which they only provide a small coffee and a waffle lol
when I was 7 in Germany with my father, we used to ride the trains there.. I loved it.
I am from India. It will take fifty years to reach this level of traveling. For information our Railways carrying millions of passengers daily. Great service indeed!
6:03: I knew it. "Modernization" and refurbisment mean always increased capacity which neccessarily means reduced space... Sorry, I generally don't appreciate this. But in case of Thalys the power outlets and USB ports in front of the passenger instead of somewhere underneath is a good idea! And so is the cup holder.
Looks like they put in more rows of seating plus extra seating in the bar car? I read that SJ is going the same way with the X2000 refurbishment, more seats in the same space.
While Thalys does away with the bar, you still have a restaurant car on ICE ...
@@uncinarynin Yes, there are stilll dining cars in ICE trains. Their average journeys are longer anyway than those of the Thalys. But the general comfort in the ICE 4 has decreased in comparison with ICE 1 + 2.
I agree about the seat pitch. The old interior did have a capacity problem, but leg room wasn't even that good in standard class to begin with. It's quite a shame because this redesign definitely was necessary.
Looks tight
This isn't always true. The refurbishment of the CP Class 4000 (Alfa Pendular) was everything for comfort and ride quality.
They improved the bar quality even!
Great video. I hope the New Acela gets this kind of debut. You can't ever enjoy such a meal and look at scenery like that on a plane.
The USA needs more trains.
acela ....................... *silence* yeah dont think gonna be so good anytime soon
ReddyPlays ditto ......😒😒😒😒
We need all the railroad tracks replaced here in the USA. It's very embarrassing. We already had an Amtrak tragedy because of it.
@@IvisH23 Yeah, and get the freight companies to pay for it. If you are gonna own the track, be responsible for the repairs.
@@prop_thunder_therealone For all of you beating up on AMTRAK - blame the politicians (the majority of Democrats in particular). They (aside from Joe Biden) are addicted to air travel - witness the reluctance to give up "Congressional Airlines" AKA Reagan National Airport. It is not as if Dulles and Marshall BWI can't take up the slack; BWI certainly can, it's not THAT much further for anyone that either drives or takes mass transit - I know from doing both. In fact, I can't take a long-distance nonstop from Reagan National (but can from Marshall BWI or Dulles; I have from BWI, in fact).
I don't like this idea of replacing onboard catering with vending machines. It's horrible customer service, especially on intercity (and international!) trains
I always enjoy your trip reports. The ruby looks really good, great seats, new carpets. They should keep the full bar car on the longer journeys to Amsterdam, Cologne and Dortmund. I have never travelled Thalys before and I would like to do it premium class. The food looked really delicious, complimented by chouffe beer. Thanks for sharing.
I’m getting the train in Ho scale and we’ll I had to see the real thing. Never been to Europe but I’m fascinated by the passenger trains how sleek and nice they are. And I have to say if I ever go to Europe I would look forward to riding this train. And also got to say I love the video definitely subscribing
Congrats on being invited to the event. Very cool.
I am a regular Thalys traveller between Amsterdam and Paris, and i have to say that if you are tall, you will no longer fit, as the gap has become smaller. I travelled few times already with 'Ruby' and yes it is prettier, but the old one is defenetly more comfortable and looking less cheap.
Btw i am 193cm and i no longer fit.
I am 192 and the old interior was okay for me. The seatpitch wasnt great but the seat itself was extremely comfortable so that compensates. On picture, I think the old interior looks better than than the new one. But I definitely noticed the old interior needed a bit of a 'fresh-up'. I hope they'll continue to have the old trains operating for a while, kinda weird that they reduce the seatpitch while the population is getting taller.
Are you out of your mind? "Prettier"? They squeezed in more chairs, the chairs dont recline its Ryanair on rails now
Love your introductions. Big fan from California and watch all. I have learned a lot from your videos. 🤩
What a coincidence ! I took the Thalys too yesterday between Paris and Antwerp ! Though not in the Ruby train, though I did see it outside of Brussels
You are right! I also saw the Ruby train connected to the old thalys passing through Antwerp centraal station bound for Paris. The livery is indeed shinny and the interior was increadibly from the outside.
Yes, yes yes... I was anticipating this train report, many thanks for doing this one, being a big fan of the Thalys!!!
Great review! I think it is definitely a hit - both interior and exterior look great. I can't believe how good the lunch they served you was! That is really top notch service.
Great video as always dude.
Delighted to see you comparing your own shows in person Thibault!!! 👍👍
Thats a really nice looking Thalys train. Ive travelled on the old units from Brussels to Rotterdam. Great press gifts Im envious. Great video thanks and respect.
Very nice, you were fortunate to go on this inaugural trip.
I was very skeptical with the initial announcement of Thalys being refurbished again, but the result doesn't look bad at all: The seats look decent. Maaaaiiiiissss, je suis absolument ravi de voir que La Chouffe est servi à bord des Thalys :D Merci pour ce video les gars! Greeting from Canada!
except they screwed up by replacing manned bar with vending machines, what a letdown!
This new upgraded train looks very nice. The one and only time I rode Thalys was from Paris to Cologne in 1999. I don’t remember much about the interior design, but the macaroni and cheese with ham was very good, lol
Nice Video! Awesome train! 02:20 I like the older TGV!
Greay video! The Thalys looks great! A bit like a present while travelling. And I like the fact there is room for bikes. And compared to the Thalys the ICE (and Eurostar) looks so COLD...
The new train looks very smart and comfortable, but the removal of the buffet car is a retrogade step in my opinion. Okay, there is a machine, but machines have a habit of becoming 'out of service'! I agree with you about the riding qualites of modern trains though, the ride on the Japanese class 800 trains on LNER and Great Western is very poor.
Frech train design is outstanding! For short trips a bar coach might not be necessary, but I love to visit the bar even at short trips!
How was the coffee from the vending machine? Seriously though, the bar was part of riding with Thalys. Now it's kind of just a red TGV.
A bar service for a trip of 1:20 doesn’t make sense
@@freewal Thalys also does longer journeys, cologne to Brussels or Paris-Dortmund are both 3+ hours iirc, as is Paris-Amsterdam. On a trip like that you can justify more than just a coffee and a pack of sweets from a vending machine.
@@fetzie23 that’s true. I hope for long service they keep the cafeteria coach
@@freewalThat's ridiculous. It isn't just 1:22 hr, they only took the train to Brussels.
The whole trip to Amsterdam is 3,5 hours.
For that, and for the price of my ticket, I need the the bar compartiment.
@@fetzie23Actually even the route of this film is not this short, it's the train from Paris to Amsterdam,which takes 3,5 hours.
The guy filming just went off at Brussels.
I have a question: Is it a completely new livery/refurbishment for all sets or just some dedicated to a side "premium" service apart from the standard Thalys service (with the standard livery)? Kind of like the opposite between standard TGVs and Ouigo: instead of a low-fare service, a exclusive/premium service. Great video though!
It’s for all of the sets
The difference is the livery and new refurbished interior, which has less lenght between the seats, no meal service (the buffet coach is now equiped with vending machines).
Harder seats with less space, and a vending machine instead of a bar... You can hardly call that "premium".
But it does look really good though
This train looks really nice
Another great video! It’s a beautiful train and the red colour is amazing. I really like the power outlets being at an easy height to reach and the idea of having a floor sensor for opening doors is inspired.
However, food “service” from vending machines is just sad. I agree that for a trip of around an hour that might be acceptable but what happens if this equipment is to be used on longer routes?
Foot space in 1st class for the two seats looks really tight. Bin in the way and they kept the footrest which reduces clearance even more. Solo seat for me then.
12:58 I know companies are now currently removing graffiti on trains to add anti-graffiti coatings but I do find graffiti on rolling stock to be a bit unsatisfying
Something I’ve noticed over the years is the terrible graffiti on European trains. In the UK we generally remove graffiti within a couple of days.
Don't come to Spain if you hate graffiti... almost every regional or commuter train is covered in it, as well as freight locomotives and rolling stock.
It's a real nightmare. I have nearly stopped travelling by train because of how uncomfortable it makes me feel, not just the painted windows, but also how those thugs sabotage trains with passengers inside. What an utter disgrace...
@@osasunaitor That’s awful! 😡
@@osasunaitor In my country graffiti sparked a criminal investigation as the gov't was concerned that it meant that the train depot's security had been breached, & whether the graffiti artist could sabotage the rolling stock too e.g. tamper its brakes
@@lzh4950 that's interesting, I hope we would take things so seriously here as well... but no, vandals break into train depots day after day and nobody cares.
May I ask what country you are from?
I hope the new trains are taking into account the limited range of motion for some travelers. My elderly mom nearly couldn’t get onto a train in Belgium during our last visit due to the step height. I was trying to manage the bags, so my hands were full trying to lift them onboard. I’d like it if you could address some of these issues with train travel in a normal setting, like when people are crowding onto a train and there is help available.
_my favorite part of this video, the goodie bags and also the train’s updated designs and upgrades_
Edit : my only language I ever know is English and I’m scared of how to say “thank you”, “beg your pardon/pardon me?”, “hello/hi”, “excuse me?” And also “can I ask you for a little favor?” In French though
Love the livery !
pity the bar car does'nt exist anymore...but a nice train; learned that Thalys will be Eurostar within a couple of years!
They learned from German Train Designers, form follows function. Many TGV have the Look of my grandmas living room and have the same functionality 😂! Well done Thalys.
I travelled twice in that’s train it’s beautiful beast
It’s very good to have a good and full meal in Premium class for a 1h22 ride, it’s much less good to ride more than 3 hours in Standard Class from France to Germany or the Netherlands at meal time in Standard class and to have a chocolate bar, if the only machine is correctly working.... I appreciate your review, I appreciate the high level of catering and design. But don’t forget the majority of Thalys traveller’s don’t travel that way, and the bar is highly appreciated in south and east Europe.... Bad idea from Thalys to remove it. And it’s also a job who totally disappears: Thalys’baristas ..... ☹️☹️
You can bring a sandwich with you that you bought in the station for half the price, you know. Obviously with closer seat pitch and eliminating bar/restaurant space they are cramming more people in, which holds ticket prices down. If you have the money to spend you can get a Premium ticket.
@@emjayay Cool but no. It's about providing the service. It's one of the things that make trains trains. Why can't thalys keep the bar, on an international train but operators like CP and RENFE still maintain their bar coaches on local InterCity's
Definitely to have a ride from Brussels to Paris
Great video !!
This is BEAUTIFUL.
The cup holders look like they would be difficult to use if there were two drinks. Doesnt seem there is a way to adjust the spacing
Mega top
Thanks a lot for this cool presentations!
Seul regret : le bar ! J ai un super souvenir d'un trajet Paris > Bruxelles avec un ex-collègue uniquement dans cette voiture pour éviter un compartiment "Fumeur" (seul dispo dans le cadre d un rebooking de dernière minute).
Awesome video! I wonder how long this'll last considering the Eurostar+Thalys merger...
Absolutely magnificent! It looks like they are doing things right, which more transportation companies need to do...
I really like the livery, the colors remind me slightly of the old Rock Island Rockets which I think were some of the best looking trains in the U S.
Again, I am so jealous living in the States where Amtrak is pretty much the only choice...
i wish american trains were like this,, the light well its just cute the whole train is awesome oh i want one of those gift bags
Beautiful inside very comfortable
E lindo esse trem simply boa viagem ai trem bala
🏴👍🏻❤️ Nice livery and interior. A tasty menu. Merci beaucoup.
I can see no improvements on new Ruby trains, but I am very disappointed that the traditional bar car has been deleted.
It seems to me that this video was somehow sponsored by Thalys, despite them saying the opposite.
-He was happy about the decreased seat pitch, something that always upsets him in other trains.
-He was happy about the cafeteria being substituted by two crappy vending machines, when he's always very vocal against this type of measures
-...
Very impressive-looks as though clad in vinyls rather than a shiny paint job.
Great video, thanks! But it was really time for an internal renewal, at least for that Thalys that I went from Aachen to Paris and back last November. I hope that the new Thalys coaches will soon make it to German destinations, too! 🙂
Was the bar coach removed after the refurbishment? 8:15
i generally take the thalys from amsterdam to gent or brussels. to gent you have to change to icc in antwerp. hope to head to paris on it soon.
Very nice train !
What a beautiful train.
What a beautiful train 💯😍🇧🇪🇫🇷
Hello brother u r going nice..... appreciate from india (rajasthan)
That AM96 at 12:55 looked like it was wearing a hoodie lol
Nice report ! !
I thought Thayls brand was to be replaced with Eurostar so why a rebrand of something which will soon be history??
I have to agree with my fellow commenters. While the Thalys Bar does not have the same standard as DB in their ICE trains, they still offered a decent variety on snacks and drinks. Do you even have Beer in that vending machine? Wine? I don't think so. It was very nice to start the holiday with a nice cold beer while riding 350 km/h. And on long journeys the dining car is absolutely needed!
Beer bar and hot snacks might be added later.
Trip to cologne is 3 hours, there we could need a dining car
Such a good train!
I would love to go on this train.
Funny how a low-budget operator such has Leo Express can offer fresh meals in every class, and lie-flat seats in first class on domestic routes, but the insanely overpriced operators in France can only offer a vending machine and reduced seat pitch on international routes.
you're comparing oranges vs apples
Moquette ! 😅 c’est: carpet. Mais merci pour le tour quand même. 🎉😎
Looks amazing. Will this replace all Thalys trains on all routes? If so, when by?
16-44 - All trains refurbished by 2024, assuming Russia has not invaded the EU.
I'm a little conflicted. This is clearly an big improvement as the age of the interior was one of the weak points of the old Thalys, and this looks way more modern. And as you said, extra luggage space and bike space really was needed. However, leg room has never really been a strong point in Thalys standard class, so to see seat pitch being reduced is worrying. Allthough it must be said that capacity was a problem on the previous Thalys interior. I don't really have an opinion on the bar disappearing as I've never really seen it full nor have I visited it often. I also wonder what will happen to this interior since the Thalys brand is set to disappear.
The train looks good. Your beard looks good too. Of ALL the trains you have ridden in, in various countries, I wonder what you think of our Amtrak trains. I think American trains look pretty worn, weak, and filthy when compared with trains in the rest of the developed world. American political and business leaders seem less interested in clean and efficient electric trains, and more interested in the highly polluting domestic airline industry, automobiles, and more and more paved roadways they cannot maintain. It's SAD in America.
It will continue to be SAD in the USA and Canada.
Luckily things are improving just very slowly and plus knowing their age Simply Railway will definitely return to ride Brightline’s BrightRed between Orlando and Miami and the Avelia Liberty on the NEC. And then further in the future (post-2025) you have Texas Central’s Shinkansen between Dallas and Houston, and then CAHSR will be using a US Version of the ICE Trains in the Central Valley
EDIT: Removed autocorrect’s shenanigans
@@cy_torrent Oh dear!!!
@@Eurobazz Ah then here’s quick run down of the projects:
- Amtrak’s New Acela (Avelia Liberty, Alstom): Max line speed 270kmh. It has independent track plans but Amtrak being Amtrak it’s hard to find out when or the funds they have put towards it. The model is scheduled to enter service early next year.
- Brightline Orlando-Miami (SCB-40, Siemens): Max line speed of 220-240kmh. It has dedicated tracks from Orlando eastward to the freight line and part of the funding is for double tracking and some places triple tracking the freight corridor it will run along towards Miami and vice versa. Funds for electrification are beginning to be collected and the current infra is being futureproofed for when that day comes. Construction is moving smoothly and quickly, with expected opening in the Summer of next year
- CAHSR Central Valley (Custom ICE, Siemens): Max line speed of 300kmh. My worries about it is that it’s single tracked and serves neither LA, the Bay, nor Sacramento in its first segments. The line does have good detail on maps but double tracking the route is still iffy. Due to funding issues and construction delays the opening date would be after 2026 somewhere.
- Texas Central Houston-Dallas (Shinkansen N700S, Kawasaki): Max line speed of 330kmh. Its speed and line plans are great and concerns about connectivity are being discussed along with future line studies to San Antonio and then upward towards Austin and potentially form a triangle. Much like CAHSR, it had funding issues and some delays and is also scheduled for an opening also somewhere after 2026.
@@cy_torrent Wow!!!
Super vidéo
Just Splendid
I was on it 3 weeks ago its amazingly quiet , like floating on a cloud and plenty of room and comfortable as i am a bigger guy and had no issues with comfort. I fell asleep on it a few times. The only thing i dont get is instead of reducing the bar capacity why did they not engineer another coach to increase capacity instead of reducing the size of the bar.
BEAUTIFUL....Thank you
The new Ruby looks beautiful!! The color choice is perfect. Comfortable and relaxing ride. Thank you Thibault and Benjamin😀😀♥️♥️
Wow this is neat!
I am not a huge fan of the color, but I wonder if I am missing some heritage element (similar to Hankyu in Japan) where the red represents the historical color of the railways?
I associate red with excitement, communism and socialism. This is not my train. Blueish or greenish are far more relaxing
Beautiful train
I'm super impressed at the ride quality, hardly any vibrations at high speed! I remember when I took the new Eurostar train, the shaking and rattling was pretty bad and my dad and I both got motion sickness. Hats off to Thalys for an impressive product!
As for the dinning car removal, I have mixed feelings, but Japan seems to be ok with just vending machines and a trolly service on the Shinkansen so if they can make it work, I'm sure Thalys can as well ✊
The wheel system used by Thalys (French TGV) is very different from the system used by Eurostar Siemens. On French TGVs the wheels are mounted between the train carriages. On Siemens trains the wheels are mounted under the train carriages. The French system is more silent and smooth.
I'm sure you are right, but I've been on Thalys and ICE and didn't notice. Both seemed quite smooth and quiet at top speed. (No Eurostar to compare.) In the US the normal DC-NYC train is shockingly rough riding and vibrates sometimes. Old suspension design I assume and crap tracks. The Acela on the same tracks is far better but not up to Thalys or ICE standards, again probably the crap tracks.
I love SNCF ans ALSTOM and French 😍😍😍🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
I LOVE RED AND I LOVE THIS TRAIN
a vending machine on a non-japanese train is a surprise, but i suppose it's a logical move since the trip doesn't last very long. you guys still have serviced lunch at least. in Japan you have to buy takeout bentos at the station of departure if you really need to eat something along the way.
Thalys have done better in re-desiging the windows in the ex-bar coach
For example, Renfe didn't touch the windows in the ex-cafeteria coaches on the S-112 trains refurbished for Avlo service.
Does anyone know what will happen with the Thalys PBA sets? Also refurbishment or new ones?
All these standardisations are leading to a certain type of high speed train all over the globe.....There are nice, of course....still I wish that some local trains to remain as vintage and high quality image of the yesterday....
Great video as always, but not a fan. Less legroom, harder seats and removal of the bar and barista. As always with modern upgrades it’s all about getting more people in and less comfort 👎
I have a different way of thinking about "seat pitch." I am a great fan of the seats on Amtrak NE Corridor. It is not simply a measure of the distance between my knees and the seat in front of me but also the ease of getting in and out of the seat. On Amtrak, one can stand upright between the seats. One can move from the window seat to the aisle without discomfiting one's fellow passenger. There are few metrics on which American trains are better than European ones but on the space between seats, there is simply on comparison.
Nice video. Love thalys trains has the top speed of 300km per hour changed
Floor press to open doors - “fancy” the British Rail HSTs had them since 1976 😅
Also Amtrak. Very handy when boarding with luggage or returning from the cafe' with food.
I like that train when I'm in Amsterdam
Nice video. The Thalys is now beatifull! Does this Thalys also drive tot the Netherlands?
I dont know, maybe
Yes Thalys does.
the ruby pba livery is my sec favourite liverie from Thalys, but I will always set the 2008 livery on the first place
great job !
Considering the meal you received in Premium, I could do without a dining car!
It’s amazing 🤩
What % of the trains have been changed to the new seats now (2024)?
You should go to Japan and review the trains there!
is the service only specifically for the inaugural trip or that is the normal thalys premium class service?