Étoile du Nord (train)

Étoile du Nord
Advertising poster for the Étoile du Nord, 1927.
Overview
Service typeExpress train
(1924–1927)
CIWL luxury train
(1927–1939)
Express train
(1946–1957)
Trans Europ Express (TEE)
(1957–1984)
InterCity (IC)
(1984–1987)
EuroCity (EC)
(1987–1996)
StatusReplaced by Thalys service
LocaleFrance
Belgium
Netherlands
First service15 May 1924 (1924-05-15)
Last service1 June 1996 (1996-06-01)
Former operator(s)Nord / SNCF
NMBS/SNCB
NS
CIWL
Route
TerminiParis Nord
Brussels Midi/Zuid /
Amsterdam CS
Service frequencyDaily
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Route map

The Étoile du Nord was an international express train. It linked Paris Nord in Paris, France, with Brussels, Belgium, and, for most of its existence, also with Amsterdam CS in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its name meant literally "Star of the North" (North Star), and alluded not only to its route heading north from Paris, but also to one of its original operators, the Chemin de Fer du Nord.