Thalys' LONGEST route from the French Alps in PREMIUM class

Bonjour à tous!
Happy new year, 2023; I haven't posted in a while because I wanted to change some things on the videos. I hope you'll enjoy this version of the video!
We start the year with an incredibly high-speed journey between the French Alps and Brussels with Thalys on their excellent PREMIUM class.
- TRIP INFORMATION -
RECORDED MARCH 2022
Railroad company: Thalys
Train type: PBKA
From: Aime-La-Plagne to Brussels South
Time: 6h12
Price: 239€ - Booked one month before departure
Thumbnail credit: Remi Daugeron, link to his work: flic.kr/ps/2BHhds
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00:00 : Intro
01:25 : Thalys SNOW
01:59 : Alpine traffic
04:37 : Arrival of the Thalys
05:22 : Premium boarding
05:55 : Departure
06:28 : Pricing
06:36 : Seat Check
07:50 : Relaxing ride through the valley
09:31 : Turn around in Albertville
09:53 : What's PBKA
10:51 : Mid-roll ads
11:21 : Going down
12:23 : Chambéry Challes less Eaux
14:03 : Aiguebellette lake
14:46 : Service and WiFi
15:21 : Lyon
15:46 : High-speed line
16:09 : Foodservice
16:52 : Walkthrough of the train
17:49 : Toilets Time
18:16 : Popping bar
18:44 : Crew change in Disneyland
19:02 : Welcome in Belgium
19:14 : Arrival in Brussels
19:20 : Thoughts & conclusion
19:40 : Outro
#Thalys #travel #train #railway #railroad #trainspotting #highspeedtrain #TGV #Alps #holidays #SimplyRailway #greentravel #vlog

[@Suree62]

This service looks amazing. Something we are in Germany allways dreaming of.

[@Neville60001]

We dream about this kind of service being here in Canada, too

[@RoelBaardman]

I wish more trains from NL/BE would go beyond Paris. The transfer between Gare du Nord and Gare du Lyon is a big hurdle (especially in case of delays) to travel beyond Paris.

[@karimb.]

You don't need to change in Paris! You have Thalys from Amsterdam to Brussels South and in Brussels South you have the French TGV (4 trains each day) going to the South of France (Lyon, Marseille, Avignon, etc). I did it plenty of times.

[@lpt2606]

@@karimb. yes to the south, but to Bordeaux or Toulouse? I find Paris also a big problem.

[@israfil882]

The problem with paris is that all 6 of its major stations are a terminus, which poses a really big problem for future high-speed rail connections between Southern Europe and brussels/Amsterdam. Currently trains from brussels to strasbourg or the French riviera go through either the airport or Disneyland without actually stopping in Paris. It's a big waste imo.

[@lpt2606]

@@israfil882 exactly

[@RoelBaardman]

@@karimb. That already helps a bit I think. Recently I wanted to go by train from Amsterdam to Modane, and this was one of the show-stoppers.

[@roundandroundmyworld]

Of all the European train operators I travelled with, Thalys has the most comfortable seats and the best service by far!

[@mstrmren]

And they're the most overpriced too. Definitely not worth the price you pay.

[@mariavandenbosch2723]

Thalys Staff is always fantastic! But the food,......it's the coldest food in the world brrrrr.....

[@nvire5202]

Eurostar runs trains on Saturdays between London and Bourg Saint Maurice, you should maybe check it out too, it's unique

[@theobrattinga500]

Great video !!

[@lquard1371]

08:20 haha la gare de Moutiers c'est chez moi😁, c'est toujours aussi impressionnant le trafic sur cette ligne à voie unique l'hiver !

[@avatar_auxbourgh2010]

OMG New intro is Cool and finally our Legend is back!!!!11🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@louiscy]

The view is breath taking , would be worth it just for the view.

[@elegant_travelling]

Why do you think they will be removing the restaurant car on the new Thalys? It actually was my favourite part of the whole train. It's a place that allows for some social interaction, and to "break" a journey which would otherwise be entirely seat-bound. Especially love the fact that they have actual tables; not just a counter! It's the same on Frecciarossa. Frecciarossa(s) up to ETR500 have a proper sit-down area with wooden (lined) tables, and plush blue velvet seats (not silk-velvet of course, but some fire-retardant synthetic version of if I'm sure, but still it looks classy). All the newer Frecciarossa (above 500) seem to have done away entirely sit-down/table component. Some have a small handful of barstools with a miniature couter, but the top-of-the-line Frecciarossa 1000 doesn't even have those, just a tiny crammed stand-up counter with ta view of the bins on one side, and a wall on the other. In the early days of the Frecciarossa, its on-board restaurant was quite a feature... It gave it an element of class which is lacking on most modern services.

[@maxster_8989]

Thanks for sharing. It's a very unique route.

[@sirgermanm78]

Happily these new trains look wonderful!

[@timnewman1172]

Beautiful scenery and a nice train, Thank you for sharing Thibault!

[@Backwardlooking]

Liked your new introduction and Simply Railway flip intro. You’ve obviously spent a lot of time and effort on producing this slick new feature. Well done. 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤️

[@emmanuelphilippart4615]

Aime la Plagne, ma gare préférée !!!!!

[@IGuessIDoThings]

Woah I wasn’t expecting that new fancy intro 🤯

[@Glacussia]

A nice improvement.

[@mr.conductorfromsts4204]

I like your new intro for your travel report videos around the world

[@cheeseblog]

I love your channel for so many reasons. One of my favorites ❣️

[@franbongard7710]

I’m so excited next week is Toronto! That’s where I live. All hail VIA Rail!

[@juliendefreyne4433]

Les Thalys sont de beau TGV merci simpli Railway 👍💗

[@josephseverino674]

I wish we had a Thalys' in the USA.great video

[@Neville60001]

There has to be a ton of new infrastructure for HSR to run on first.

[@renicostareni2313]

Unfortunately we dont have this wonderful Transportations Systems here in Brazil. Thank you for share this video with me. I really apreciate to know little bit about pu lic transportation there in Europe. Thank so much.🌎💚

[@lpt2606]

Nice intro, looks dope

[@andrealauer4493]

Love that retro composition board!! I can't wait to see your Canadian trip. I was super excited to see your recent cameo in Downie's short. I grew up just outside of Toronto. I live in the US now, but my brother works for the company that runs Toronto's GO trains

[@rolandharmer6402]

Thank you. That was fun.

[@valeriebassett3107]

Your new beginning is really cool! Missed you last week. Hope you are doing well.

[@nvire5202]

Feels weird seeing places I always see, I live at Aix les Bains near Chambéry and I always go to Chambéry, it's a weird feel seeing this

[@MrGoodnplenty1957]

Back in 2007, i made numerous Brussels to Amsterdam Schiphol trips on the Thalys. Very nice.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Really nice video. Great food, comfy seat. Worth the expense for 6 hour journey. Thanks Thibault.😀💚

[@luisstransport]

Great trip report

[@TrainLoverHimu]

Excellent video 👌👌

[@francisdoss8642]

As usual, you make 'our' journey with you very enjoyable and invariably I smile at some of your light hearted ways...Merci friend...Greetings from a cold-wintry evening in Bangalore.🚋🚆🚋

[@airrex72]

Did it a few years ago from Amsterdam. Very convenient and very friendly dedicated staff on board. Nice white Nike Air Max by the way. ((-:

[@adrianavivas5825]

I LOVE THE THALYS SO MUCH - only because it's red, but their first class is real nice.

[@Whitbypoppers]

In 2019, my wife and I took a return Thalys service between Amsterdam and Brussels. Great service and very comfortable.

[@anastasio_giorghio]

Love the new intro

[@israfil882]

I wish thalys didn't hold a monopoly on the brussels-paris line. The journey is only 1.5h but it's not uncommon to find tickets for more than 100 euros since there is no competition. So either that or you pay 15 euros for a 4h flixbus ride, hopefully with the liberalization of European rail we'll see some competition so that this line will actually be affordable

[@AndrewG1989]

I do want to go to the Alps by train. So breathtaking 😍

[@AntenneQC]

Merci Thibault pour cet excellent compte rendu ! C'est vraiment du bon service et des paysages à faire rêver. Par contre, quand tu dis que le repas végétarien était excellent, on voit bien que tu n'a pas mangé tous tes légumes alors que tu es déjà au dessert ! Vilain garnement 😂

[@joemeyers3127]

Beautiful journey! That station in the Alps looks almost as busy as Grand Central Terminal.

[@The4905]

love the new intro!

[@BobGeogeo]

Veggie option -- yay!

[@TundeEszlari]

Nice video.

[@Gyle.3559]

This is nice

[@Vinus_]

Wah ce nouveau générique de dingo

[@marciojosemarquesnoronha3379]

Surpreendente .....eu assistindo de Sáo Paulo ( Brasil ).....este maravilhoso vídeo ! Imagem bonita de se ver ! Show Show Show Show Parabéns Amigo ! Like Like Like !

[@SeverityOne]

Well, strictly speaking, you *can* drink a bottle of wine while driving a car. It's just a very, very bad idea. 🙂 The wine reminds me of an organised cycling holiday I had in my late twenties, around the Gironde area in south-western France. Cycling every other day, not too far, going to the beach and/or the obligatory piscine at the camping site, sitting down with some red wine in the evening and chat... In fact, to get to the south of France, my friend and I took a Thalys (leg space was so-so) from Amsterdam to Paris, and a TGV (leg space was terrible) to the south-west of France. Obviously, because the French can't imagine that anybody would want to bypass Paris, we had to take the métro with our luggage. Ah, memories...

[@EpicThe112]

Some of these Americans might be soldiers who are off-duty in Germany and Italy. From here, how do you get to Aviano Air Force Base Vicenza Army barracks Italy & Clay Kaserne Wiesbaden Ramstein Air Base Germany by train. When it comes to 15kv 16.7hz AC DBAG Netze ÖBB Infra TGV PBKA POS et Euroduplex simply use DC 1.95m pantograph Metalized Carbon strip on 15kv 16.7hz AC Carbon strip 1.95m. On the other hand, a German Swiss and Austrian train running on French 1.5kv DC will drop its 25kv 50hz 1.45m Carbon Strip for a 1.95m pantograph Metalized Carbon strip activated with 1.95m Carbon strip pantograph lowered. You can see this on the rooftop of DB Baureihe 406-408 ICE3M ICE3 Neo where do they have separate pantograph strips for each voltage. From what I can see the French approach which is also seen in former Czechoslovakia does reduce the space for pantographs by using same length 1.45m Carbon SNCF CFF CFL 25kv 50hz/15kv 16.7hz AC work on Italian 3kv DC while a Metalized Carbon strip 1.95m pantograph can work on 3kv DC 25kv 50hz and 15kv 16.7hz AC systems that require Carbon strip

[@max-vn1lc]

The new intro id sooo nice 🙂

[@beynickiana]

J'adore Bruxelles

[@ferseal4]

Good video, we've missed you!!! I like the new intro, I just will add the average speed of the travel with the map when you indicate the travel time, the travel distance and the tavel price.

[@blaythierry8722]

😀🥰🥰🥰🥰❤❤💥💥💥👍👍👍👍👍👍VERY NICE THALYS THANK YOU VIDEO BYE

[@dsdonovan]

Cool new intro titles :)

[@Abnerbandanovotempoinscrito1mi]

Muito lindo trem gostei

[@luisyanez5943]

Los alpes franceses son muy hermosos 😍😍❤❤

[@imsbvs]

Would be great for these services to come to the UK, and return to stopping in Kent - Ashford or Ebbsfleet!

[@jeanjacques9980]

I don’t think the trains will be stopping in Kent for a very long time, SNCF miffed that British government offered no financial assistance to the service during covid. I believe that the trains are only running at two thirds capacity, brexit related matter?

[@baseballfan99]

A direct train makes everything so simple. When I went from Paris to Chamonix, which could in theory be done with two trains, I had to take 3 trains and one bus and it took about 9 hours.

[@PakaBubi]

I think its a fair price. Lovely train.

[@1631m]

Wow new intro!

[@tylerbailey8839]

Love your videos! So relaxing. Do you film with a special camera or an iPhone?

[@dennisud]

Great ride. It seems that the station would be on of the great places for train watching in Europe We definitely saw some great views on this one! Have you ever ridden the 'JR Central' that runs in Japan?

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip, finally you are back, and yeah you got brand new intro. Correct me if I wrong, but in the past, there's also Eurostar reaching that station. I'm curious, is that true Thalys will be merged with Eurostar?

[@user-wy3yh3mq1k]

Супер

[@jaiyanachowdhury5674]

For Thalys, instead of PBKA, it should be PBBA (Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam) so that it can connect four capitals of four countries

[@RoelBaardman]

Just read that the Thalys brand will be removed from the trains this year due to the merger with eurostar. Also siemens stock is expected to travel between Amsterdam and Paris.

[@josvanderploeg7775]

In summer Thalys is running Thalys Zon (Thalys de soleil), it runs from Amsterdam to Aix-en-Provence. I think it's longer than the ski-Thalys.

[@maxart3392]

One should do some research on what's the longest trip in Europe without an intermediate stop. I once took Frecciarossa form Rome to Mestre and the first stop was Padova (it skipped both Florence and Bologna), but there's certainly a longer one too.

[@wilouxwiloux7164]

There used to be a Paris-Moscow sleeper before covid and the war. Now I would imagine that the longest journey (in terms of duration) is the Prague-Split sleeper train that Regiojet operate in the summer

[@maxart3392]

@@wilouxwiloux7164 Well, sleepers are a slightly different story. I had in mind the regularly scheduled daylight trains.

[@Nderak]

12:00 -12:15 was not expecting to see terrain like that in Europe

[@francemax7847]

Great video, I've always wondered how this trip was from the inside, it's still a very special Thalys. Now the next goal would be to make us discover the other train, Bourg-Saint Maurice London by Eurostar to do but this is almost mission impossible 😅.

[@simonsv9449]

Yeah, it runs once a week on the winter only.

[@user-su5rt2dk8p]

Thank you for the good video.Are you planning to ride all the high-speed trains around the world in the future?

[@katherinespencer2633]

Beautiful trip, I get motion sickness very easy. Sitting backwards would do it for me..do they’re have sets where you travel forward?

[@AV-Trains84]

Juste une question par curiosité : Quelle est donc cette musique au moment de l'ouverture "Simply Railway" ? 😅 (En tout cas j'adore 💖)

[@terin1862]

since this service is in the winter and helping to bring skiers, are there special storage areas on the train for skis?

[@bima_kitagawa72]

I do apologize for my comments, but sometimes the new subtitle are almost unreadable for 144p users. Usually I'm watching your videos offline, and I set it on 144p for keeping my internet quota. 😢 Edit: It was going normal after 6:35, so continue it as always! Great review anyway! I love it!

[@n3ils3n]

Fab vlog! Did the train pull into Aime la Plagne empty and start the journey from there?

[@simonsv9449]

No, it loaded passengers at Bourg-Saint Maurice.

[@samtrak1204]

The food looks delicious1😋😋😋Does train have a dining car for coach passengers to enjoy a decent meal?

[@quattrobajeena8623]

I wonder if Thalys trains are going to get repainted once the merger with Eurostar gets finalized. Great review as always!

[@osasunaitor]

According to the news I read, both companies will continue operating different brands once merged into the Eurostar Group, at least for now. However, it is planned that the Eurostar brand will gradually absorb Thalys in the future, so we might start seeing PBA and PBKA trains converted to Eurostar in a few years

[@casibefa]

@@osasunaitor I read somewhere that eurostar to uk will be renamed Eurostar Blue and eurostar to france , netherlands & germany, Eurostar Red.

[@osasunaitor]

@@casibefa that would be a nice and quick way to solve the differences! Sounds good :D

[@jeanjacques9980]

Wonderful way to travel, the restaurant cars used to be very civilised, it’s such a shame to remove the restaurant cars. I thought the lines were high speed right into the Alps, obviously not if single track or standard track. Is it possible to explain the different voltages and the impact of the different voltages on the train? I vaguely remember that the higher the voltage results in less loss of power over distance, lower voltage requires more substations? I don’t really understand and why there isn’t a common European standard?

[@andrewjohnston1963]

Such a shame you cannot take dogs on Eurostar otherwise this would be a great way to the Alps for dog owning skiers like me. Easy change of trains at Brussels Sud and then straight to Bourg St Maurice. As it is we drive from Calais down the A26 with all the other Brits - not very green and you arrived absolutely exhausted! Any other ideas how to travel with a dog from London to the Alps?!!

[@josephr9551]

Wow, I want to ride that train! Wow, Thibault is becoming vegetarian! Hooray and Mother Earth thanks you!

[@bernardbouzon5499]

J'espère qu'il y aura encore des rames avec une voiture bar

[@samtrak1204]

How much time do the skiers have to ski between trains before returning home. There is only one train on Saturday that turns around soon after arriving at the ski resort?

[@viacheslavnovikov1657]

Did I understand correctly that PBKA consist is basically an Alstom engines coupled with Talgo Pendular carriages? What a weird combination though...

[@plinefr]

No, single stage Alstom carriages. PBKA are classic TGV ... painted in red with little différences for the interior fittings.

[@stefano3202]

At 10:19 , I think you meant to say that Germany has 1.5kV (1500V) AC instead of France/Netherlands 1500V (1.5kV) DC You put 1.5kV and 1500V as different things

[@deshawn8510]

I’m gonna take the thalys premium class from Marseille to Rotterdam

[@tscc]

Is that 239€ one way or both ways? Their website cites 129€ for a premium ticket (at least for the Thalys Snow), which would be a bit cheeky if untrue.

[@TeamWolfmountain]

So i will wonder what Eurostar will do with this service after next year seeing Thalys is no longer a thing after this year

[@jimpern]

How fast did the train go before Lyon?

[@mkbairwa]

Around 9:55 you spelt alstom wrong by the way nice video

[@SimplyRailway]

Alstom used to be call Alsthom back in the 90s.

[@hostxing4153]

好家伙 百万级他特效的片头了

[@jameschicken1008]

If this is their longest special route what us their longest standard service ie one that operates daily

[@tonywalters7298]

that is a lot of red

[@villejag5963]

So glad it's back but this intro... while the animation is great, the sound is similar to that of a brand account you tube intro with extremely annoying sound :/

[@evolancer-qv6de]

i hope the talys from Marseille to amsterdam

[@vaughnwilliams1208]

Why would anyone go there at the end of winter ? Is there snow still very high up for skiing ?

[@SimplyRailway]

Yes

[@silvianbauer489]

@@SimplyRailway I love thalys what is the metronom

[@samtrak1204]

I don't see skis on the train or platforms.

[@YasEmisDaBus]

I'd love to see a review of the South XPT Sleeper between Sydney and Melbourne in Australia. You have to book two tickets unfortunately, or your room will be shared with someone

[@pianistegolfeur]

Notre SNCF est bien loin de ce genre d'initiative....

[@ClarkKent-er6qc]

Jakarta city