Just got an email from Thalys. Thalys trains begin using the new high-speed tracks between Brussels and Amsterdam on Dec. 13. This means the journey from Paris to Amsterdam will now be 3 hours 18 minutes! Until the Lyra high-speed service begins sometime in 2010 you can also use Thalys from Brussels to Amsterdam in 1 hour 53 minutes...regular IC train will still use the old tracks and the journey time will still be 2 hours 45 minutes.
Posted by
ABQ
28 posts
Good to know! Also I noticed that they began giving cheaper one-way fares. Two years ago, they only had discounted fares on return [round] trip tickets.
85 Euros one-way was too expensive, so we took the TGV [bought tix in advance] from Brussels to CDG, then the RER into Paris. Worked well and 1/2 the Thalys price. However, now the Thalys has good one-way prices.
Posted by
San Francisco, California, USA
446 posts
I got a ticket Paris-Amsterdam for 25 Euro, but it's on December 5, so I guess I won't experience the new high-speed line. Oh, well...
Posted by
OP
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Paul, you're correct Thalys used to have very expensive one-way fares. But to get around that, a lot of people simply purchased the cheapest round-trip tickets and threw away the the return ticket;)
Posted by
ABQ
28 posts
Hahaha! I had wanted to buy the return trip and throw away the second ticket, but had heard that they'd just charge your credit card for the one-way full amount if you did [being that they have your credit card info an all].
Probably a silly rumor, but anyway...glad they wised up, because what if people really did need those empty seats.
Posted by
Grapevine, TX, USA
875 posts
Thanks, Michael, for that info. Helps in my train planning for March!