Thalys has decided to cancel its service between Lille and Amsterdam from the next annual service in 2019, i.e. 10 December. Launched in April 2014According to the railway company, this line has never found its audience, with occupancy rates too low. 25% on average for the four trains - due in particular to a 22% drop in traffic since 2015. A fall in passenger numbers that we have not been able to stem Thalys despite an aggressive pricing policy. The company intends to use these recovered trainsets in 2019 to strengthen its offering on its other routes between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
optimise its offering to meet the needs of international mobility
" With a fleet of 26 trains only to travel to four countries every day, Thalys' mission is to optimise its offer to meet the needs of international mobility. "Bruno Dierickx, Thalys Commercial Director, confirmed in a press release.
Mandatory connection at Bruxelles-Midi
For passengers wishing to travel to the Netherlands from the northern capital from mid-December onwards, Thalys is initially inviting them to use one of the fifteen daily connections between Lille and Brussels-Midi and then board one of the 14 Thalys trains bound forAmsterdam. This connection in Brussels still allows business travellers to make a round trip in the same day, with the shortest journey time in the world. 2h29 between the two towns.
Thalys' decision prompted an outraged reaction from some 200 people from Lille who work daily in Brussels, who took the following action demonstrated at Lille-Europe station on the morning of 13 March. The Mayor of Lille, Martine Aubry, the President of the Hauts-de-France region, Xavier Bertrand, and the President of the Metropolitan Council, Damien Castelain, have sent a letter to Guillaume Pepythe Chairman of SNCF, to find a solution for the 500 commuters from Lille, in its capacity as majority shareholder in Thalys.
