Rubens (train)

Rubens
Overview
Service type Trans Europ Express (TEE)
(1974–1987)
EuroCity (EC)
(1987–1993)
Trans Europ Express (TEE)
(1993–1995)
Status Replaced by TGV
Locale France
Belgium
First service 29 September 1974
Last service 23 January 1995
Former operator(s) NMBS /
SNCF
Route
Start Gare du Nord
Stops none
End Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid
Distance travelled 310 km
Service frequency Daily
Technical
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification 25 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 Belgian 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Paris and Brussels were classified as TEE again.[5] After the opening of the LGV-Nord on 23 January 1995 the Rubens was withdrawn.[6]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.