SNCF TGV Thalys PBKA

The Thalys PBKA is a TGV variant ordered and operated by Thalys between its namesake cities Paris, Brussels, Cologne (German: Köln) and Amsterdam, forming the abbreviation PBKA. The sets have eight carriages and are 200 m (656 ft 2 in) long, weighing a total of 385 tonnes. They have a capacity of 377 seats. They were intended to be Thalys' sole rolling stock, but their extreme cost and complexity led SNCF to order a simpler sister class, the Thalys PBA, a TGV Réseau derivative, with which they can work in multiple.

Thalys PBKA
A Thalys PBKA at Eilendorf.
In service	1998–present
Manufacturer	GEC-Alsthom
Family name	TGV
Constructed	1995–1998
Number built	17 trainsets
Formation	10 cars
Capacity	377 seats
Operator(s)	Thalys
Specifications
Train length	200 m (656 ft 2 in)
Maximum speed	320 km/h (199 mph) (Design) 300 km/h (186 mph) (Service)
Weight	383 t (377 long tons; 422 short tons)
Power output	8,800 kW (11,801 hp) (25 kV 50 Hz) 5,160 kW (6,920 hp) (15 kV 16 2/3 Hz) 3,680 kW (4,935 hp) (1.5 kV / 3 kV)
Electric system(s)	Catenary 25 kV 50 Hz AC 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC 1,500 V DC 3,000 V DC
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
Safety system(s)	ERTMS level 2 TVM-430, KVB, ATB
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

All of the trains are quadri-current, capable of operating under 25 kV 50 Hz AC (LGVs and a part of the French lignes classiques), 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC (Germany), 3 kV DC (Belgium) and 1.5 kV DC (the Netherlands and the remainder of the French lignes classiques).

Their maximum speed in regular service is 300 km/h (186 mph) with 8,800 kW (11,801 hp) under 25 kV AC, 250 km/h (155 mph) with 5,160 kW (6,920 hp) under 15 kV AC, and 220 km/h (137 mph) with 3,680 kW (4,935 hp) under 1,500 V DC;[1] further constraints resulted in imposing a limit of 200 km/h (124 mph) on these trains in Germany.[2]

Seventeen trains were ordered: nine by SNCB/NMBS, six by SNCF and two by NS. Deutsche Bahn contributed to financing two of the SNCB sets.