Gare du Nord, in Paris, was opened in 1846 and has been expanded over the years. It is currently the biggest and busiest station in France, with 36 train lines, access to buses and underground. From this station depart the international trains Eurostar, Thalys and TGV. TGV, TER and RER French trains also depart from this station.
// Accessibility
The station is accessible through all doors for people in wheelchairs. Access to the various floors of the station is via elevators distributed throughout the station, next to shops or in the RER ticketing area. The entire station has tactile floor to direct passengers. The station is in stone, in cream tones, on the outside, in the old part. The most recent part is all in clear glass. Inside, the metal pillars are in dark green, the floor in dark tones, and some areas in wood. This station has high noise levels.
Eurostar e320
The Eurostar e320, or Class 374 in the UK, are the latest Eurostar trains, which connect London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam with high-speed trains. These trains are Siemens Velaro and have been specially adapted to Channel Tunnel specifications. They are 16 carriage sets, with a capacity of 902 passengers, have a bar on board and reach 320km/h.
// Accessibility
These trains are accessible to passengers in wheelchairs, with specific seats and accessible toilets. Boarding and disembarking assistance is required, which must be arranged in advance. Check the Eurostar website for more information. Trains have audible door location alerts, interior audible warnings, visual alerts on interior screens and exterior destination indicators.
Thalys PBKA
Thalys is a company created to serve the Benelux, owned by SNCF, SNCB, NS and DB. It operates with TGV trains specially adapted to run on different lines in the various countries served, so the trains have the same locomotives used in TGV Duplex with non-duplex TGV coaches. The Thalys PBKA reach 320km/h, have 377 seats and are capable of operating with 4 different electrical networks, in addition to the signaling systems of the respective countries.
// Accessibility
Thalys PBKA are accessible to wheelchair passengers, however assistance is required to board and disembark trains, check the Thalys website for more information. These trains have audible warnings on the inside, and destination indicators on the outside.
TGV Duplex
The TGV Duplex is the latest version of the SNCF TGV fleet. They have 512 seats, a bar on board, wi-fi, and the particularity of being high-speed trains with double-decker carriages. They reach 320km/h.
// Accessibility
These trains are accessible to wheelchair passengers and have an accessible toilet. The entrance is possible by using assistance at the stations. Inside, a lift platform lowers passengers to the lower floor of the carriage. These trains have audible announcements, visual announcements on screens inside, and destination indicators outside.
BB 15000
These locomotives were built by Alstom in the 1970s for SNCF and have become one of the most iconic locomotives in the world. This model served as the basis for several versions for different countries, where they still circulate today, as in France, despite several plans to be taken out of service as new trains are put into service.
// Accessibility
These locomotives do not have passenger seats and are therefore not accessible.
MI 79 - RER B
The MI 79, or Z 8100 series, are suburban trains that serve on line B of the RER service in Paris. These trains are probably the best known in Paris, as they run to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
// Accessibility
These trains can be accessed by removable ramps, requiring assistance from station staff. Trains do not have space for passengers in wheelchairs. These trains have audible announcements and visual route indicators.
// Moments
00:00 - Gare du Nord
00:10 - Eurostar e320
00:24 - Thalys PBKA (TGV)
00:45 - SNCF TGV Duplex
01:02 - SNCF BB 15000 | TER
01:19 - Gare du Nord
02:56 - Access to RER B | MI 79
03:53 - Departing from Gare du Nord
07:38 - Onboard of MI 79
08:03 - Paris CDG tunnel entrance
09:00 - Paris CDG 1 Station
11:08 - Paris CDG 2 TGV Station
11:51 - Ramp access from the train
11:57 - Departure of a MI 79 from Gare du Nord
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