The European Rail Revolution Is Underway

Over the next eight years, EU member governments will double the amount of rail linking EU countries and introduce higher-speed trains traveling up to 217 miles per hour.

1 minute read

November 4, 2002, 5:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"Europe's fast trains are cutting into car travel, too. Before the high-speed Thalys train connecting Paris with Brussels was launched in the mid-1990s, 61% of travel between the two cities was by car and only 24% by train. Now, the Thalys has 50% of the market and cars only 43%, according to the International Union of Railways. That's not surprising, considering that driving from Paris to Brussels takes at least three hours. And taking into account highway tolls and Europe's $4-per-gallon gasoline prices, it costs about $40 each way to drive -- not that much less than a $63 one-way Thalys fare."

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: See Europe -- at 217 Miles an Hour

Thursday, October 31, 2002 in Business Week

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