The United Sates has a thing to learn from Europe’s high speed trains. Blasting tunnels through mountains, improving tracks and purchasing the most modern locomotives, European countries are achieving a major increase in their high-speed rail facilities.
- In the Netherlands and Belgium, after 10 years of construction, a high-speed rail line will link Amsterdam and Brussels starting in early 2010.
- In Italy, the Florence-to-Bologna leg of the nation’s high-speed Milan-Rome-Naples service will open in December after the completion of 45 miles of tunnels.
- In Austria and Switzerland, a high-speed train will begin operating from Vienna to Innsbruck to Zurich in December.
- In early 2010, high-speed rail will begin operating between Helsinki and St. Petersburg, followed by high-speed rail on the 650 mile route between St. Petersburg and Moscow.
- In Spain, the high-speed AVE train is traveling the 404 mile route between Madrid and Barcelona.What a challenge for our country!Written by C. Kennedy
kennedy@atlastravelweb.com
