Thalys PBKA
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The Thalys PBKA is a high-speed 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. Their motor cars are technologically similar
to those of TGV Duplex sets, but the trains do not feature bi-level carriages. They have eight carriages and
are 200 m (656 ft) long, weighing a total of 385 tonnes. They have a capacity of
377 seats.
All of the trains are quadri-current, capable of operating under 25kV
50 Hz AC (LGVs and a part of the French lignes
classiques), 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC (Germany, Switzerland), 3 kV DC
(Belgium) and 1.5 kV DC (the Netherlands and the remainder of the 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 AC or 1,500 V DC, the power
output drops to 3,680 kW, insufficient to reach 300 km/h in commercial use. Although their power-to-weight
ratio allows a 250 km/h operation under 15 kV AC, further constraints resulted in imposing a limit of 200 km/h on these trains in
Germany.
Unlike Thalys PBA sets, the PBKA sets were built
exclusively for the Thalys service. Their motor cars are technologically similar
to those of TGV Duplex sets, but the trains do not feature bi-level carriages. They have eight carriages and
are 200 m (656 ft) long, weighing a total of 385 tonnes. They have a capacity of
377 seats.
All of the trains are quadri-current, capable of operating under 25kV
50 Hz AC (LGVs and a part of the French lignes
classiques), 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC (Germany, Switzerland), 3 kV DC
(Belgium) and 1.5 kV DC (the Netherlands and the remainder of the 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 AC or 1,500 V DC, the power
output drops to 3,680 kW, insufficient to reach 300 km/h in commercial use. Although their power-to-weight
ratio allows a 250 km/h operation under 15 kV AC, further constraints resulted in imposing a limit of 200 km/h on these trains in
Germany.