On 29 August the international high speed train operator Thalys launched a new service linking Essen in Germany (Ruhrgebiet) to Paris. Thalys now provides a daily direct link between Essen, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Aachen, Belgium and France, enabling passengers from the Ruhr region in Germany to travel directly to Brussels and Paris without changing trains.

The daily service leaves Essen at 05:12, arriving Brussels at 08:32 and Paris Nord at 09:59.

For the return leg, the train leaves Paris Nord at 18:21 in the evening, arriving Essen at 22:19.

This service offers business and leisure travellers from the Ruhr conurbation a fast and comfortable journey by rail to Brussels and Paris – an attractive alternative to short-haul flights.

(Source: Thalys)