Rubens (train)

Rubens
Overview
Service typeTrans Europ Express (TEE)
(1974–1987)
EuroCity (EC)
(1987–1993)
Trans Europ Express (TEE)
(1993–1995)
StatusReplaced by TGV
LocaleFrance
Belgium
First service29 September 1974 (1974-09-29)
Last service23 January 1995 (1995-01-23)
Former operator(s)NMBS /
SNCF
Route
TerminiGare du Nord
Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid
Stopsnone
Distance travelled310 km
Service frequencyDaily
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification25 kV AC (France)
3000 V DC (Belgium)

The Rubens was an express train that linked Gare du Nord in Paris, France, with Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid in Brussels, Belgium. The train was named after Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens.[1]

History

Trans Europ Express

The Rubens was introduced together with the TEE Memling in the TEE-network to cope with the raising number of passengers between Paris and Brussels.[2] Both services were the first in the morning, the Rubens departed from Brussels at 6:42 in the morning, while the Memling departed from the Gare du Nord in Paris at 6:45. The return services were scheduled as the fifth of the six daily TEEs in both directions, departing around 6:45 p.m.[3]

EuroCity

In 1987 the Rubens was, like the other Paris-Brussels TEE services, integrated into the new EuroCity network.[4] On 23 May 1993 the EuroCity services between Paris and Brussels were classified as TEE again.[5] After the opening of the LGV-Nord on 23 January 1995 the Rubens was withdrawn.[6]

References

  1. ^ La Légende des TEE p. 366.
  2. ^ Das grosse TEE Buch p. 114
  3. ^ La Légende des TEE p. 363.
  4. ^ La Légende des TEE p. 367.
  5. ^ La Légende des TEE p. 406.
  6. ^ La Légende des TEE p. 407.

Works cited

  • Hajt, Jörg (2001). Das grosse TEE Buch (in German). Bonn/Königswinter: Heel Verlag. ISBN 3-89365-948-X.
  • Mertens, Maurice; Malaspina, Jean-Pierre (2007). La Légende des Trans Europ Express (in French). Vannes: LR Presse. ISBN 978-29-036514-5-9.