[MarcVD]

What is finally the truth regarding CNL trains to Paris ? I hear two different
messages, one saying that all trains are axed, the other one saying that only
the Munich branch will disappear. Anyone knows ?

 

[MarcVD]

Bagage cars is a railway species that is almost extinct today...

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[MarcVD]

Not sure at all that OeBB will ever try to come back to Belgium. Too expensive indeed, too small a market probably, and directly reachable via station Koln with two hours of Thalys.

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[MarcVD]

The problem are indeed the access charges, which, just like in France, make it prohibitively expensive for non-incumbents. The EU should do something about that.

But Brussels would be a good market. Especially if they time the train to have good connections with Eurostar and sell through tickets.

Changing in Köln and using Thalys has currently a few disadvantages. DB is no longer selling Thalys tickets for example, and in the last Thalys from Brussel is to early, meaning that you have to hang around Köln Hbf for over two hours late at night...

Access charges are the same for all operators in Belgium, SNCB and others pay the same. So arguing about that un court wont be easy.

In addition to Thalys there are also 4 ICE trains each way.

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[MarcVD]

It's a pity there are no night train connections anymore with Poland. Wasn't PKP interested to run Rhein/Rhur - Wwa/Wroclaw/Kraków, or too much competition from Wizzair and Ryanair?

Poland still has the Paris-Moscow link 3 times a week plus other trains to the east.

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[MarcVD]

Is the issue of crossing the Belarus-Russia border for westerners solved now ? Otherwise this practically restricts the usage of this train to russian citizens only...