High-speed tracks and trains adapted accordingly are high on the agenda in many European countries at the moment. The same subject was also in focus at Nordic Rail’s main seminar on Wednesday.
“High-speed trains are a hotter topic than ever right now. The environmental aspect in particular bodes well for a bright future,” says Michael Robson, Secretary-General of European Rail Infrastructure Managers, EIM.
One of the areas covered by Michael Robson during the seminar was the sheer scale of the high-speed train concept worldwide.
“Investments have been successful in all countries that have opted for high-speed trains. On certain stretches, such as Paris–Brussels, high-speed trains have taken over completely and air travel has vanished altogether,” he says.
France is a country that already has long experience of high-speed trains. Yannick Legay, Product Policy Manager – High Speed Group, Alstom Transport in France, says the upper limit is three hours.
“If we can get passengers from A to B in no more than three hours, we can also compete with the airlines. In fact the airlines now see us as such a major competitor they’re even planning to buy trains!”