Parsifal

The Parsifal was an express train that linked Paris with Dortmund in Germany and later Cologne. The train was named after Wagner's opera inspired by the legendary knight Percival. History Trans Europ Express The Parsifal was launched on 3 October 1957 as second TEE-service between Paris and the Ruhr. The Parsifal was scheduled as the "mirror" of the Paris-Ruhr. While the Paris-Ruhr started westbound in the morning and eastbound in the evening, the Parsifal started eastbound in the morning and returned to Paris in the evening. Initially French RGP-825 trainsets were used. On 29 May 1960 the Parsifal was extended to Hamburg. Due to the new length of the route two trains were needed to operate this service. In order to level out the kilometer fees the rolling stock was switched with the Paris-Ruhr, so the extra kilometers in Germany were ridden by German trains without the need to pay kilometer fees for foreign tracks. The DB Class VT 11.5 was used until 28 September 1968 when the rolling stock was replaced by electric-locomotive hauled trains. From 30 May 1965 until 22 May 1966, the Parsifal was coupled with the Diamant between Liège and Essen.