Thalys on track for cheaper tickets

4 March 2004

BRUSSELS – Travellers using the high speed Thalys train service, which links Brussels with Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne will soon be able to benefit from a new range of low price tickets, the train operator’s new boss promised on Thursday.

Frenchman Jean-Michel Dancoisne, who has just taken over as head of Thalys operations, says he plans to introduce last-minute services that will offer tickets at up to half their normal price to people prepared to travel at short notice.

“Every Monday, on our internet site, we will offer tickets that are 50 percent cheaper than our full fare. Customers will be able to buy these tickets from Tuesday until the following Monday,” he said.

Dancoisne also announced plans to make it easier for customers to change their tickets if they need to.

“As a general principal we need to simplify our procedures,” he said.

“If I want to buy I ticket I buy it. If I want to change a ticket I will change it,” he continued.

Dancoisne added that journey times between Brussels and Amsterdam or Cologne should be considerably reduced by 2007, when new high-speed tracks are completed.

Subject: Belgian news