{{Italic title}} {{Infobox rail service | box_width = | name = ''Rubens'' | logo = | logo_width = | image = | image_width = | caption = | type = Trans Europ Express (TEE)<br>(1974–1987)<br>EuroCity (EC)<br>(1987–1993)<br>Trans Europ Express (TEE)<br>(1993–1995) | status = Replaced by TGV | locale = France<br>Belgium | predecessor = | first = {{start date|1974|09|29|df=y}} | last = {{end date|1995|01|23|df=y}} | successor = | operator = | formeroperator = NMBS /<br>SNCF | ridership = | start = Gare du Nord | stops = none | end = Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid | distance = 310 km | journeytime = | frequency = Daily | trainnumber = | line_used = | class = | access = | seating = | sleeping = | autorack = | catering = | observation = | entertainment = | baggage = | otherfacilities = | stock = | gauge = {{RailGauge|sg}} | el = 25 kV AC (France)<br>3000 V DC (Belgium) | speed = | owners = | routenumber = | map = | map_state = <!--show--> }}

The '''''Rubens''''' was an express train that linked Gare du Nord in Paris, France, with Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid in Brussels, Belgium. The train was named after Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens.<ref>La Légende des TEE p.&nbsp;366.</ref>

==History==

===Trans Europ Express=== The ''Rubens'' was introduced together with the TEE ''Memling'' in the TEE-network to cope with the raising number of passengers between Paris and Brussels.<ref>Das grosse TEE Buch p.&nbsp;114</ref> Both services were the first in the morning, the ''Rubens'' departed from Brussels at 6:42 in the morning, while the ''Memling'' departed from the Gare du Nord in Paris at 6:45. The return services were scheduled as the fifth of the six daily TEEs in both directions, departing around 6:45 p.m.<ref>La Légende des TEE p.&nbsp;363.</ref>

===EuroCity=== In 1987 the ''Rubens'' was, like the other Paris-Brussels TEE services, integrated into the new EuroCity network.<ref>La Légende des TEE p.&nbsp;367.</ref> On 23 May 1993 the EuroCity services between Paris and Brussels were classified as TEE again.<ref>La Légende des TEE p.&nbsp;406.</ref> After the opening of the LGV-Nord on 23 January 1995 the ''Rubens'' was withdrawn.<ref>La Légende des TEE p.&nbsp;407.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Works cited== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |ref= Hajt|first= Jörg |last= Hajt|title= Das grosse TEE Buch |location= Bonn/Königswinter |publisher= Heel Verlag |language= German |year= 2001 |isbn= 3-89365-948-X}} *{{cite book |ref= TEEFR |first1= Maurice|last1= Mertens|first2=Jean-Pierre|last2= Malaspina|title= La Légende des Trans Europ Express|location= Vannes |publisher= LR Presse |language= French |year= 2007 |isbn= 978-29-036514-5-9}} {{refend}}

{{Trans Europ Express trains}} {{EuroCity trains}}

Category:EuroCity Category:International named passenger trains Category:Named passenger trains of France Category:Named passenger trains of Belgium Category:Railway services introduced in 1974 Category:Trans Europ Express Category:Railway services discontinued in 1995 Category:Peter Paul Rubens