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TGV-PBKA 4321 (Thalys) Köln Hbf The TGV-PBKA, owned by Thalys International, is waiting for departure to Paris Nord. Cologne Main-station, Platform 8. There's an ICE 3 in the background (okay, if you look closely ;-). Photo by Patti - contact: trainpic@gmx.de

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TGV PBKA (Thalys) nr. 4321 TGV-PBKA detail A detailed view onto the automatic Scharfenberg-coupler of a TGV-PBKA. They are used to let the TGV-trainsets run in so-called "multiple units", increasing their capacity. The side-door is also open, it lets the driver/engineer taking a closer view onto the coupler's technology and provides a better 'entry' in case of maintenance work. Mostly the PBKA-trainsets from Cologne are coupled with the PBA's (or also PBKA's!) from Amsterdam in Bruxelles-Midi, then they run together to Paris. All Highspeedtrains of the TGV-family (Sud-Est, Atlantique, Réseau, Duplex, PBA, PBKA, Eurostar, AVE, Euromed and KTX) are equipped with such couplers and can operate in multiple units (maximum 2 trains), since the year 1981, the beginning of commercial TGV services in France. That's about 15 years earlier than in Germany (ICE 2)!!! And the "special TGV's", like the tilting TGV- P 01 (TGV-Pendulaire) or the TGV 'La Poste' also have got the Scharfenberg-coupler. Photo by Patti - contact: trainpic@gmx.de

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TGV PBKA (Thalys) nr. 4321 TGV-PBKA detail A detailed view onto a TGV-PBKA's motor bogie. This is the first bogie of the powercar, situated right under the driver's cab. For better orientation: The nose of this powercar shows to the left, a part of the powercar's door can be seen up on the right. Photo by Patti - contact: trainpic@gmx.de

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Thalys 4321, one of two units owned by Deutsche Bahn AG, passed Köln_Ehrenfeld on 28th of July 2012. Photo ©Arnim v. Herff

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DBAG 4322, one of two Thalys train-sets owned by Deutsche Bahn, passed K&oml;ln-Hansaring on 7th of March 2009. Photo ©Arnim v. Herff

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Le Thalys PBKA arrive en gare de Cologne afin d’assurer la rélation vers Bruxelles-Midi et Paris-Nord, lundi 21 novembre 2005 Thalys PBKA unit arriving into the main station of Cologne, whereupon it will travel forwards towards Brussels-South and Paris-Nord, Monday 21 November 2005 James Robinson (J.Robinson@ex.ac.uk)

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Thalys 4322 in Köln-Deutz. 19.03.2009 Foto: Nilotzki

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Thalys 4322 in Köln-Deutz. 19.03.2009 Foto: Nilotzki

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Köln Hbf Thalys PBKA 4321 THA9428, Köln Hbf - Paris Nord 2002.10.20, 09h52 Digital photo by Rafal Tomasik WWW page