Thalys PBKA
Thalys PBKA at Eilendorf.
Interior of Comfort (1st class) coach.
In service1998–present
ManufacturerGEC-Alsthom
Family nameTGV
Constructed1995–1998
Number built17 trainsets
Formation2 power cars + 8 passenger cars
Fleet numbers
  • 4301–4307
  • 4321–4322
  • 4331–4332
  • 4341–4346
Capacity404 seats (120 first class, 284 second class)
OperatorsEurostar
Specifications
Train length200 m (656 ft 2 in)
Maximum speed320 km/h (199 mph) (design)
300 km/h (186 mph) (service)
Weight383 t (844,000 lb)
Power output
  • 8,800 kW (11,801 hp) on 25 kV AC
  • 5,160 kW (6,920 hp) on 15 kV AC
  • 3,680 kW (4,935 hp) on DC
Electric system(s)
Current collector(s)Pantograph
Safety system(s)ERTMS level 2, TVM-430, KVB, ATB
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Thalys PBKA is a high-speed trainset, manufactured by the French company GEC-Alsthom, and used on the international Eurostar service. Originally built for Thalys (which later merged with Eurostar) they were intended to operate between Paris, Brussels, Köln (English: Cologne) and Amsterdam, forming the abbreviation PBKA. They were initially intended to be sole rolling stock of the service, but their extreme cost and complexity due to their quadri-current capability led the order of a simpler tri-current sister class, the Thalys PBA, a TGV Réseau derivative, with which they can work in multiple (coupled together).

The PBKA trains are quadri-current, capable of operating under the same systems as the PBA sets: 25 kV 50 Hz AC (France), 3,000 V DC (Belgium) and 1,500 V DC (the Netherlands and parts of France), but with the addition of 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC (Germany).

They are a member of Alstom's TGV family of trains. Each set has a power car on each end with three first class cars, a bar car, and four second class cars in between.[1] The trains are 200 m (656 ft 2 in) in length, weighing a total of 383 tonnes (844,000 lb) with 404 seats (120 first class, 284 second class).[2]

Their maximum speed in regular service is 300 km/h (186 mph) with 8,800 kW (11,801 hp) under 25 kV AC, 200 km/h (124 mph) with 5,160 kW (6,920 hp) under 15 kV AC, and 220 km/h (137 mph) with 3,680 kW (4,935 hp) under 1,500 or 3,000 V DC.[3][2]

Seventeen trains were ordered: nine purchased by National Railway Company of Belgium, two by Deutsche Bahn of Germany, six by SNCF of France and two by Nederlandse Spoorwegen.

Fleet details

Class No. in Service Year Built Current Units Notes
Series 4300 17 1995–1998 4301–4307 (7) Purchased by SNCB
4321–4322 (2) Purchased by DB
4331–4332 (2) Purchased by NS
4341–4346 (6) Purchased by SNCF

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Thalys Seat Plan" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  2. 1 2 "Eurostar shunters and trainsets". 2023-07-16. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  3. ↑ Alain Jeunesse and Michel Rollin (March 2004). "La motorisation du TGV POS" (in French). Retrieved 2007-07-04.

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