Memling (train)

Memling

Overview
Service type	Trans Europ Express (TEE) (1974–1984) EuroCity (EC) (1987–1997)
Locale	France Belgium
First service	29 September 1974
Last service	13 December 1997
Successor	Thalys
Former operator(s)	NMBS / SNCF
Route
Start	Gare du Nord / Ostend
Stops	none
End	Brussel Zuid / Cologne
Distance travelled	310 km
Service frequency	Daily
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in)
Electrification	25000 V AC (France) 3000 V DC (Belgium)

The Memling was an express train that linked Gare du Nord in Paris, France, with Brussel Zuid in Brussels, Belgium. The train was named after Belgian painter Hans Memling.^[1]

Trans Europ Express

The Memling was introduced together with the TEE Rubens 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 Memling departed from Gare du Nord in Paris at 6:45 in the morning, while the Rubens departed from Brussels at 6:42. The return services were scheduled as the fifth of the six daily TEEs in both directions, departing around 6:45 p.m.^[3] On 30 May 1984 the TEE-service between Paris and Brussels was reduced to four daily trains in both directions, this meant the end for the Memling as TEE.

EuroCity

The Memling returned into service at the start of the EuroCity network on the link between Ostend and Cologne, the original route of the TEE Saphir. The Memling was replaced by Thalys on 13 December 1997.^[4]

References

1. La Légende des TEE p. 362.
2. Das grosse TEE Buch p. 114
3. La Légende des TEE p. 363.
4. La Légende des TEE p. 364.

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.