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1846: First rail connection Paris-Brussels via Valenciennes and Mons.
Inauguration of the first rail terminus in Paris.
1855: First rail connection Paris-Liège via Jeumont-Haumont.
1858: Opening of the Paris-Brussels line via Mons.
1864: Inauguration of the Gare du Nord in Paris (present building).
1876: Incorporation in Brussels of the International Wagons-Lits Company by Georges Nagelmakers (a native of Liège).
1896: The direct Nord-Express rail service links Paris to Liège and Cologne.
1924: Two fast trains, nos. 123 and 112, link Paris and Brussels in 3 hours 45 min. using the same locomotive from start to finish.
1926: The Nord-Express service is recommenced after a lull during World War I.
1927: Launch of the “Etoile du Nord” (Star of the North)
Pullman service between Paris and Amsterdam.
Introduction of Pullman cars on the Nord-Express.
1929: Launch of the “Oiseau Bleu” (Bluebird) service between
Paris and Antwerp.
Direct Pullman service on the (Ostend)-Brussels-Cologne route.
1936: The “Oiseau Bleu” service is extended to Amsterdam.
1937: Introduction of the triple “TAR” (Train-Automoteur Rapide) DMU service on the Paris-Brussels and Paris-Liège routes.
1946: “Etoile du Nord” services recommence on the Paris-Amsterdam route and “Oiseau Bleu” on the Paris-Brussels route with Pullman cars.
1952: Opening of the link line between Brussels-Midi and Brussels-Nord.
1954: The Paris-Liège-Cologne-(Dortmund) route is served by a German Railways VT08 DMU.
1957: Creation of the Trans-Europe-Express (TEE) using fixed rakes
with diesel traction.
June: Launch of the “Etoile du Nord” on the Paris-Amsterdam
route, “Ile de France” and “Oiseau Bleu” on the Paris-Brussels
route, “Paris-Ruhr” on the Paris-Cologne-Dortmund route, “Saphir” on
the Brussels-Cologne-Dortmund route.
October: Launch of the “Parsifal” on the Paris-Cologne-Dortmund
route (later extended to Hamburg).
1963: Electrification of the Paris-Brussels line.
The first three-current electric locomotives enter service.
One additional Paris-Brussels TEE, named “Le Brabant”.
1964: Introduction of stainless steel TEE carriages hauled by multi-current locomotives, replacing the diesel units between Paris and Amsterdam.
1964: Launch of electric traction and TEE trainset between Paris and Cologne.
1965: New “Diamant” TEE on the route between Antwerp-Brussels-Cologne-Dortmund.
1974: With the introduction of the “Memling” and “Rubens” TEEs, there are 5 TEEs a day between Paris and Brussels (2½ hours – 133 kph commercial speed).
1987: Decision to create a high-speed rail link between Paris, Bruxelles, Amsterdam and Cologne.
1993: Creation of first international travel group, “IPM”, with the purpose of defining a shared concept and developing the organizational structure for the future rail company.
1995: Creation of Westrail International, a Belgian cooperative company and joint subsidiary of the SNCF and the SNCB, which is joined by a subsidiary created specifically by the Dutch and German rail companies (Thalys Netherlands and the DB, respectively). The purpose of this company is to create and manage a high-speed network covering Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
1996: First Thalys Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam line. From Paris, the trip to Brussels takes 2h03, and the trip to Amsterdam takes 4h47.
1997: Thalys lines become a true network. Service is started on the high-speed Paris-Brussels line with a total travel time of only one hour and twenty-five minutes. Travel time between Paris and Amsterdam is also reduced by one-half hour. Service is extended to Germany, with lines to Cologne and Aix-La-Chapelle. In Belgium, trains are offered to Namur, Charleroi, Bruges, Gand and Ostende. .
1998: Thalys Neige (“Snow”) offers service to winter recreation areas from the Tarentaise Valley to Bourg St. Maurice.
1999: Westrail International becomes Thalys International. Inauguration of the Thalys Bruxelles – Aéroport CDG 2 TGV – Marne-la-Vallée - Chessy line.
2000: Thalys Soleil (“Sun”) line created, with service to Valence.
2002: Thalys Soleil line extended to Marseille and Avignon.
2003: First Thalys Nuits d’Eté (“Summer Nights”) trains operate on the Brussels - Marne-la-Vallée ine in the context of the company’s partnership with Disney. Inauguration of the Paris – Bruxelles National Airport Line.
2004: Thalys transports its 40 millionth passenger.
2005: Thalys offers passengers free wi-fi connection on board its trains.
2006: Thalys is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
