SNCF TGV Thalys PBKA

Thalys PBKA at Köln Hauptbahnhof

The Thalys PBKA is a train derived from the French TGV. It operates the Thalys service between Paris, Brussels, Cologne (German: Köln) and Amsterdam, forming the abbreviation PBKA.

Unlike Thalys PBA sets, the PBKA sets were built exclusively for the Thalys service. They are technologically similar to TGV Duplex sets, but do not feature bi-level carriages. All of the trains are quadri-current, capable of operating under 25 kV, 50 Hz AC (LGVs), 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC (Germany, Switzerland), 3 kV DC (Belgium) and 1,5 kV DC (the Netherlands and French lignes classiques). Their top speed in service is 300 km/h (186 mph) under 25 kV, with two power cars supplying 8,800 kW. When operating under 15 kV power output drops to 4,460 kW, resulting in a very poor power-to-weight-ratio on German high-speed lines. They have eight carriages and are 200 m (656 ft) long, weighing a total of 385 tonnes. They have a capacity of 377 seats.

Seventeen trains were ordered: nine by NMBS/SNCB, six by SNCF and two by NS. Deutsche Bahn contributed to financing two of the SNCB sets.