Over the last few days, many passengers using the Thalys network have had the unpleasant surprise of receiving text messages announcing that their train has been cancelled. What's more, the possibility of reprotection is complicated by the fact that several trains may be cancelled on the same day and those remaining are fully booked. Thalys has confirmed this situation to us, citing "operational difficulties "which forced the railway company to adapt its transport offer until 14 November" . However, the company's website shows the trains already cancelled after this date, until 9 December (www.thalys.com/fr/fr/info-trafic/33548).
Up to 10% of frequencies may be affected by these cancellations each day, as Thalys plays with its passenger numbers. While only one frequency was cancelled last Sunday, nine were cancelled on Monday and a further seven today, Tuesday 8 November. Four cancellations are scheduled for Wednesday 9 November.
Thalys says it is doing its utmost to avoid any inconvenience to its customers, who have been informed if their travel schedule has been cancelled. " Station teams have been reinforced to provide passengers with the best possible information" added the Thalys representative. He added: " passengers can request a full refund or exchange free of charge" .
Too many trains undergoing maintenance and renovation
These traffic disruptions are due to the simultaneous maintenance of several trainsone of which had to be kept longer in the workshops for remedial work because ". it did not meet all the standards" says the company. Thalys is committed to a vast programme to renovate its trains whose first new look trainwhich is both more comfortable and has greater capacity, as well as being more energy-efficient, was introduced just over a year ago.
Known as "Ruby", only two of these renovated trains currently operate on the network's Dutch and German routes, with the entire fleet of 26 trains due to be converted over the next few years. The ongoing merger with Eurostar should reduce this type of inconvenience for business and leisure customers, as the future rail group will be able to juggle a fleet of 51 trains made by Alstom and Siemens.
Infrabel, the Belgian rail network operator, is also taking advantage of the 11 November bridge to carry out infrastructure work at the entrance to Brussels-Midi station. No trains will be running on the Paris-Nord/Brussels-Midi route next Friday. and part of Saturday 12 November, with the service not resuming until 7pm.
