Experiences in other countries:Europe
Transeuropean High-Speed Network
France
France is equipped with the most developed high speed network in Europe. The TGV opened its path in 1981 with the line Paris-Lyon (TGV Sud-Est) and later spread to other cities and countries (it has connections with Switzerland, Belgium, Holland and the United Kingdom).
Germany
Germany, whose railway network transports both passengers and freight, entered service in 1994 with ICE (Inter-City Express) trains. Nowadays the line reaches Austria and Switzerland.
The first high-speed line covered Hanover- Würzburg route with the aim to increase the global capacity of the railway network. That is why the line transports freight and passengers. Every day over 50 freight trains share the rail with long-distance passenger trains at a maximum speed of 270kph and regional trains speed at 200kph.
At a later date, wider infrastructures (Manheim-Stuttgart, Berlin-Hanover, Frankfurt-Cologne) have been created thus, enabling to travel across the main part of Germany. "ICE 3" trains are operating since 2000. A faster and more modern train model that reaches a 330kph speed.
Italy
Italy was the first European country to build the high speed train. Called "Direttissima," this line connects Rome with Florence in 90 minutes since 1978 by the train service Eurostar. The organisation Treno Alta Velocitá is building new stretches consisting of Milan-Bologna-Florence-Rome-Naples and Turin-Milan-Verona-Venice-Trieste.
.Portugal
Portugal's government has endorsed the construction of two high-speed lines from Lisbon to Oporto and Madrid, on a less than 3-hour journey.
Spain
The AVE is still under construction with the only experience of the previous line Madrid-Seville opened in 1992. The programme designed by the Ministry of Public Works expects the creation of 7,000km tracks for 2010. The connection Madrid-Barcelona will be running in 2007 connecting both cities in two hours and a half.