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| A Cisalpino tilting train races through the European countryside (wikipedia) |
EUROPE – Europe’s modern high speed rail networks have forever changed
the way travelers visit the continent.
Thanks
to modern rail technology, traveling by train through Europe
has recaptured the romance of travel that existed in a bygone era. Once again
the simple act of coming from and going to is a pleasure to be enjoyed with
contemporary comfort and efficiency.
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| Japanese Shinkansen, commonly called "The Bullet Train" (wikipedia) |
In
1964, when the hoopla of the Tokyo Olympic Games was over and the world
departed, the crowded island nation waved good-bye and went back to work. But something remained. Something had changed the world of
transportation and travel, forever.
In
Japan
they are called Shinkansen, but to
the world they commonly became known as “bullet trains.”
With concerns about population
density combined with rising costs of gasoline, countries like
France and
Germany quickly began developing
high speed rail services of their own.
Today,
France
takes national pride as a leader in conventional rail technology, establishing
a world record speed of 357.2 miles per hour in April of 2007.
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| Double decked TGV speeds through the coast of France (wikipedia) |
Commercial high speed trains in many European countries
currently reach scheduled speeds of 186-mph while some of France’s TGVs
(Train à
Grande Vitesse) travel at 200-mph. In larger
European countries, such as France
and Germany,
it was feasible to design dedicated tracks which allow higher rates of speed.
Countries with less revenue
for rail infrastructure or which are not large enough to support the extensive
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| Tilting trains make high speed possible (wikipedia) |
lengths of dedicated track necessary for high speed rail, ingeniously developed
the concept of tilting trains. While
tilt trains do not travel at the super speeds of their faster cousins, they
have the advantage of being able to operate on existing rail lines.
Another innovation, which has
also been incorporated into modern French TGVs and German ICEs (Inter City
Express), is double deck trains which offer added passenger capacity and high
speeds as well.
Technological advances in
conventional high speed rail travel made the long awaited dream of connecting
the United Kingdom with
continental Europe through a tunnel beneath the English
Channel a reality.
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| Eurostar train exits the Channel Tunnel at 186-miles per hour (wikipedia) |
The project officially opened
in May, 1994 with the 31.4 mile underwater rail tunnel linking Folkstone,
Kent in England with Coquelles Pas-de-Calais in northern
France. Today, Eurostar trains make day trips between
England and France or Belgium a convenient proposition
for holiday travelers or businessmen.
Trains travel between London and Paris in 2 hours 15 minutes, while trips to/from London
and Brussels
can be done in just under 2 hours.
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| Interior of Thalys, known as "Big Red" (wikipedia) |
Private companies have also
gotten into the high speed rail marketplace.
Known as “the Big Red Train,” Thalys unites Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands,
Luxembourg) with Paris. Popular stops en route include Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne.
Even a small country like Switzerland, which has no need for a high speed
network of its own, has cleverly negotiated alliances with France, Germany
and Italy
to utilize their rapid train services between the bordering countries. The result has been a tourism boom for all
four destinations by providing easy access for visitors.
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| Inside the bustling railway terminal in Stockholm, Sweden (wikipedia) |
Several other countries in
Europe also have extensive, growing, high speed rail services, particularly Sweden and Spain. Competition among the countries is keen, and
services vary widely depending upon the length of the journey. Short hauls feature food carts with snack and
drink services or bistro cars, while longer trips provide full-service dining
cars. Depending upon the time of day,
some trains offer meal services at your seat.
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| A German InterCity Express (ICE) pulls into Leipzig (wikipedia) |
Ground transportation is
frequently the last thing travelers consider when planning a trip. For Americans, renting a car is often the
first consideration and, indeed, at first glance a rail pass may seem expensive
by comparison. But when you calculate the
high cost of gasoline in Europe, the convenience of going city-center to
city-center by rail, the hassles of reading road signs and finding parking, the
accessibility of food and restroom services and the opportunity to relax, read
a book or paper, work at the computer, enjoy a nap or simply gaze out the
window at the passing panoramas, a European rail pass is a bargain. In
addition, rail passes offer many money-saving bonuses for a variety of other
travel related services.
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| Panoramic trains glides through Switzerland (wikipedia) |
Even with supplements for some
high speed rail services, the convenience of traveling between many European
destinations of relatively short distances, or the ability to do day trips that
were once regarded as impractical, has changed the face of travel forever.
It is now practical, in many
cases, to base yourself in a city without changing hotels every day. Not only does it save time from packing and
unpacking, it allows more opportunities for sightseeing or shopping and fewer
hassles of constantly being on the move.
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| High speed trains combine with majestic European scenery for the best of two worlds (wikipedia) |
High speed trains reinvented
travel in Europe. Using their fabulous modern
“bullet trains” is a traveler’s delight.
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