France

High-speed rail in France and bordering countries

France was the first country to introduce high-speed rail in Europe when the LGV Sud-Est from Paris to Lyon opened in 1981 and TGV started passenger service. Since then, France has continued to build an extensive network, with lines extending in every direction from Paris. France has the second largest high-speed network in Europe, with 2,800 km (1,740 mi) of operative HSR lines in June 2021,^[3] behind only Spain's 3,966 km (2,464 mi).^[4]

The TGV network gradually spread out to other cities, and into other countries such as Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. Due to the early adoption of high-speed rail and the important location of France (between the Iberian Peninsula, the British Isles and Central Europe), most other dedicated high-speed rail lines in Europe have been built to the same speed, voltage and signaling standards. The most obvious exception is the high-speed lines in Germany, which are built to existing German railway standards. Also, many high-speed services, including TGV and ICE utilize existing rail lines in addition to those designed for high-speed rail. For that reason, and due to differing national standards, trains that cross national boundaries need to have special characteristics, such as the ability to handle different power supplies and signalling systems. This means that not all TGVs are the same, and there are loading gauge and signalling considerations.

United Kingdom

Early developments

An InterCity 125 train at Hull Paragon in 1982. The InterCity 125 is the world's fastest diesel train.

Britain has a history of high-speed rail, starting with early high-speed steam systems: examples of engines are GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro and the steam-record holder LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard. Later, high-speed diesel and electric services were introduced, using upgraded main lines, mainly the Great Western Main Line (GWML) and East Coast Main Line. The InterCity 125, otherwise known as the High-Speed Train (HST), was launched in 1976 with a service speed of 125 mph (201 km/h) and provided the first high-speed rail services in Britain.^[5] The HST was diesel-powered, and the GWML was the first to be modified for the new service.^[6] Because the GWML had been built mostly straight, often with four tracks and with a distance of 1 mi (1.6 km) between distant signal and main signal, it allowed trains to run at 125 mph (201 km/h) with relatively moderate infrastructure investments, compared to other countries in Europe. The Intercity 125 had proven the economic case for high-speed rail,^[7] and British Rail was keen to explore further advances.

British Rail Class 395 high-speed train in Kent

In the 1970s, British Rail began to explore new technologies for high-speed passenger rail services in the UK. While the Japanese and French railway authorities had decided to build completely new tracks for their respective Shinkansen and TGV high-speed rail systems, British Rail opted instead to develop a train capable of running on existing rail infrastructure: the Advanced Passenger Train (APT), with a top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h). An experimental version, the APT-E, was tested between 1972 and 1976. It was equipped with a tilting mechanism which allowed the train to tilt into bends to reduce cornering forces on passengers, and was powered by gas turbines (the first to be used on British Rail since the Great Western Railway). The line had used Swiss-built Brown-Boveri and British-built Metropolitan-Vickers locomotives (18000 and 18100) in the early 1950s. The 1970s oil crisis prompted a rethink in the choice of motive power (as with the prototype TGV in France), and British Rail later opted for traditional electric overhead lines when the pre-production and production APTs were brought into service in 1980–86.^[8]

Initial experience with the Advanced Passenger Trains was pretty good. They had a high power-to-weight ratio to enable rapid acceleration; the prototype set record speeds on the Great Western Main Line and the Midland Main Line, and the production versions vastly reduced journey times on the WCML. The APT was, however, beset with technical problems; financial constraints and negative media coverage eventually caused the project to be cancelled.^[9]

Eurostar high speed trains at St Pancras Station

Germany

ICE network

Construction of the first German high-speed lines began shortly after that of the French LGVs. Legal battles caused significant delays, so that the InterCityExpress (ICE) trains were deployed ten years after the TGV network was established. The ICE network is more tightly integrated with pre-existing lines and trains as a result of the different settlement structure in Germany, with more than twice the population density of France. ICE trains reached destinations in Austria and Switzerland soon after they entered service, taking advantage of the same voltage used in these countries. Starting in 2000, multisystem third-generation ICE trains entered the Netherlands and Belgium. The third generation of the ICE reached a speed of 363 km/h (226 mph) during trial runs in accordance with European rules requiring maximum speed +10% in trial runs, and is certified for 330 km/h (205 mph) in regular service. Germany has around 1,658 kilometers (1,030 miles) of high speed lines.^[14]

In the south-west, a new line between Offenburg and Basel is planned to allow speeds of 250 km/h (155 mph), and a new line between Frankfurt and Mannheim for speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph) is in advanced planning stages. In the east, a 230 km (143 mi) long line between Nuremberg and Leipzig opened in December 2017 for speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph). Together with the fast lines from Berlin to Leipzig and from Nuremberg to Munich, which were completed in 2006, it allows journey times of about four hours from Berlin in the north to Munich in the south, compared to nearly eight hours for the same distance a few years ago.

Italy

Italy's high-speed rail network

The earliest high-speed rail line built in Europe was the Italian "Direttissima", the Florence–Rome high-speed railway 254 km (158 mi) in 1978, which used FS Class E444 3 kV DC locomotives. Italy pioneered the use of the Pendolino tilting train technology. The Italian government constructor Treno Alta Velocità has been adding to the high-speed network in Italy, with some lines already opened. The Italian operator NTV is the first open access high-speed rail operator in Europe, since 2011, using AGV ETR 575 multiple units.

In March 2011, a contract for the second phase of construction on the Milan–Verona high-speed line was signed. This section will be 39 km (24 mi) long. Construction was originally to be completed by 2015,^[15] it is open to Brescia from late 2016.

The Italian high-speed railway network consists of 1,342 km (834 mi) of lines, which allow speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph). The safety system adopted for the network is the ERMTS/ETCS II, the state-of-the-art in railway signalling and safety.^[27] The power supply follows the European standard of 25 kV AC 50 Hz mono-phase current. The Direttissima segment is still supplied with 3 kV DC current, but it is planned that this will be conformed to the rest of the network.^[28]

Frecciarossa 1000 is one of the fastest trains in Europe.^[29][30]

With the entering into service of the ETR1000 train-sets, which have a designed top speed of 400 km/h (248.5 mph)^[31] and a designed commercial speed of 360 km/h (223.7 mph),^[32] the rail network speeds where thought to be upgraded^[33] to safely allow trains to run at such speeds. After it entered in service in 2015, the Frecciarossa 1000 underwent several speed tests along the Turin-Milan route, reaching the Italian rail speed record of 393.8 km/h (244.7 mph) on 26 February 2016.^[34] On 28 May 2018, the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the ANSF announced that no further tests will be carried out, as issues of ballast being suctioned by the train emerged at those speeds, and that the speed limit would be maintained at 300 km/h (186.4 mph), which is the speed for which it is currently certified.^[32][35][36]

The increasing success of Italy's high-speed rail networks since 2008 has been cited as one of the main reasons that the flag carrier airline Alitalia, which focused on domestic flights, went bankrupt and ceased operations in October 2021 as high-speed train travel became faster, cheaper and more efficient.^[37]

Spain

The Spanish High-speed rail network, the longest in Europe

Current network and projects

The total length of lines is 3,966 km (2,464 mi) as of 2023,^[4] with long-term plans to expand it up to 7,000 km (4,350 mi). Several new high-speed lines are under construction with a design speed of 300–350 km/h (190–220 mph), and several old lines are being upgraded to allow passenger trains to operate at 250 km/h (155 mph).^[45][46]

Line	Operating speed (max)	Length	Construction began	Construction completed or expected start of revenue services
Madrid–Seville high-speed rail line	300 km/h (186 mph)	472 km (293 mi)	1989	1992
L.A.V. Madrid-Toledo	220 km/h (137 mph)	74 km (46 mi)	2003	2005
L.A.V. Córdoba–Málaga	300 km/h (186 mph)	155 km (96 mi)	2001	2007
L.A.V. Madrid–Valladolid	300 km/h (186 mph)	179.6 km (111.6 mi)	2001	2007
Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line		621 km (386 mi)	1995	2008
L.A.V. Madrid–Valencia		391 km (243 mi)	2004	2010[47]
L.A.V. Albacete–Alicante		171.5 km (106.6 mi)	Unknown	2013[47]
L.A.V. Barcelona – France–Spain border		150.8 km (93.7 mi)	2004	2013
Atlantic Axis high-speed rail line	200 km/h (124 mph)	155.6 km (96.7 mi)[48]	2001	2015
L.A.V. Valladolid–León	300 km/h (186 mph)	162.7 km (101.1 mi)	2009	2015
L.A.V. Valencia–Castellón	200 km/h (124 mph)	74 km (46 mi)	Unknown	2018[47]
L.A.V. Palencia–Burgos	300 km/h (186 mph)	134.8 km (83.8 mi)	2009	2022
L.A.V. Seville–Cádiz	200 km/h (124 mph)	157 km (98 mi)	2001	2015[49]
L.A.V. Antequera–Granada	300 km/h (186 mph)	125.7 km (78.1 mi)	2006	2019
L.A.V. León–Gijón	300 km/h (186 mph)	Unknown	2009	2023
L.A.V. Olmedo–Zamora-Galicia		435 km (270 mi)	2004	2021[50][51][52]
L.A.V. Murcia–Almería	300 km/h (186 mph)	184.3 km (114.5 mi)	Unknown	2026
L.A.V. Burgos–Vitoria-Gasteiz	300 km/h (186 mph)	98.8 km (61.4 mi)	2009	2025
Basque Y	250 km/h (155 mph)	175 km (109 mi)	2006	2028
Mediterranean High Speed Corridor: Andalusia–Murcia–Valencia–Catalonia–French border[53]	250–300 km/h (155–186 mph)	+1,300 km (808 mi)	2004	2013–2025
Madrid–(Cáceres–Mérida–Badajoz)–Portuguese border[54]	300 km/h (190 mph)	437 km (272 mi)	2008	after 2020
L.A.V. Madrid–Jaén	250–300 km/h (155–186 mph)	Unknown	2015	Unknown
L.A.V. Madrid–Santander[55]	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	2025
Madrid Atocha–Madrid Chamartín	160 km/h (99 mph)	7 km (4.3 mi)	Unknown	2022[56]

A Renfe Class 102 refurbished for Avlo services

Three companies have built or will build trains for the Spanish high-speed railway network: Spanish Talgo, French Alstom and German Siemens AG. Bombardier Transportation is a partner in both the Talgo-led and the Siemens-led consortium. France will eventually build 25 kV TGV lines all the way to the Spanish border (there is now a gap between Nîmes and Perpignan), but multi-voltage trains will still be needed, as trains travelling to Paris need to travel the last few kilometres on 1.5 kV lines. To this end, RENFE decided to convert 10 existing AVE S100 trains to operate at this voltage (as well as the French signalling systems), which will cost €30,000,000 instead of the previously expected €270,000,000 for new trains.^[57]

The network eventually opened to operators other than RENFE, and the SNCF-owned low-cost brand Ouigo España began to serve the Madrid–Barcelona route on 10 May 2021.^[58] To complement their higher-end AVE trains, RENFE launched a no-frills service called Avlo on 23 June 2021.^[59] Iryo, operated by the ILSA joint venture between Air Nostrum and Trenitalia, began operation in late 2022, making Spain the first country in Europe with three competing operators of high-speed trains.^[60][61]

Cross-border infrastructure and passenger services

Belgium

Main article: High-speed rail in Belgium

High-speed rail network in Belgium

Belgium's rail network is served by four high-speed train operators: Thalys, Eurostar, ICE and TGV trains. All of them serve Brussels South station, Belgium's largest railway station. Thalys trains, which are a variant of the French TGV, operate between Belgium, Germany (Dortmund), the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and France (Paris). Since 2007, Eurostar has connected Brussels to London St Pancras, before which, trains connected to London Waterloo. The German ICE operates between Brussels, Liège and Frankfurt.

The HSL 1 is a Belgian high-speed railway line which connects Brussels with the French border. 88 km (55 mi) long (71 km (44 mi) dedicated high-speed tracks, 17 km (11 mi) modernised lines), it began service on 14 December 1997. The line has appreciably shortened rail journeys, the journey from Paris to Brussels now taking 1:22. In combination with the LGV Nord, it has also affected international journeys to France and London, ensuring high-speed through-running by Eurostar, TGV, Thalys PBA and Thalys PBKA trainsets. The total construction cost was €1.42 billion.

The HSL 2 is a Belgian high-speed rail line between Brussels and Liège, 95 km (59 mi) long (61 km (38 mi) dedicated high-speed tracks between Leuven and Ans, 34 km (21 mi) modernised lines between Brussels and Leuven and between Ans and Liège) it began service on 15 December 2002. Its extension to the German border (the HSL 3) is now in use, the combined high-speed line greatly accelerates journeys between Brussels, Paris and Germany. HSL 2 is used by Thalys and ICE trains as well as fast internal InterCity services.

The HSL 3 is a Belgian high-speed railway line which connects Liège to the German border. 56 km (35 mi) long (42 km (26 mi) dedicated high-speed tracks, 14 km (8.7 mi) modernised lines), it began service on 13 December 2009. HSL 3 is used by international Thalys and ICE trains only, as opposed to HSL 2 which is also used for fast internal InterCity services.

The HSL 4 is a Belgian high-speed railway line which connects Brussels to the Dutch border. 87 km (54 mi) long (40 km (25 mi) dedicated high-speed tracks, 47 km (29 mi) modernised lines). HSL 4 is used by Thalys trains since 13 December 2009 and it will be used starting 2010 by fast internal InterCity trains. Between Brussels and Antwerp (47 km (29 mi)), trains travel at 160 km/h (99 mph) on the upgraded existing line (with the exception of a few segments where a speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph) is imposed). At the E19/A12 motorway junction, trains leave the regular line to run on new dedicated high-speed tracks to the Dutch border (40 km (25 mi)) at 300 km/h (186 mph).

The completion of the Channel Tunnel rail link (High Speed 1) and the completion of the lines from Brussels to Amsterdam and Cologne led to news reports in November 2007 that both Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn were pursuing direct services from London to Amsterdam and Cologne. Both journeys would be under 4 hours, the length generally considered competitive with air travel.

The 25N line (Schaerbeek–Mechelen) opened in 2012–2018 is designed for speeds up to 220 km/h (137 mph), but is limited to 160 km/h (99 mph) until another existing line Mechelen-Antwerp will be upgraded. It's unknown when it will happen.

Netherlands

Main article: High-speed rail in the Netherlands

HSL-Zuid, connected to Antwerp with the HSL 4

HSL-Zuid (Dutch: Hogesnelheidslijn Zuid, English: High-Speed Line South) is a 125 km (78 mi) high-speed line in the Netherlands. Using existing tracks from Amsterdam Centraal to Schiphol Airport, the dedicated high-speed line begins here and continues to Rotterdam Centraal and to the Belgian border. Here, it connects to the HSL 4, terminating at Antwerpen-Centraal.^[63] Den Haag Centraal (The Hague) and Breda are connected to the high-speed line by conventional railway lines.^[64] Services on the HSL-Zuid began on 7 September 2009.^[65] It is being served by Thalys trains from Amsterdam to Brussels and Paris, Eurostar trains to Brussels and London and domestic Intercity Direct train services.^[66]

HSL-Oost was planned, but was put on hiatus. It would connect Amsterdam Centraal via Utrecht Centraal and Arnhem to Germany.^[67] The existing line from Amsterdam to Utrecht is four-tracked. Two tracks out of four are capable of 200 km/h (124 mph), but the available voltage is not high enough. The line is planned to be re-electrified to 25 kV AC.

In the north, a new line called Lelylijn is under study between Lelystad and Groningen, with operating speed up to 200 km/h (124 mph).^[68] This line would, along with other measures on the Amsterdam - Copenhagen corridor, allow to reduce the traveling time between these two cities down to 4h 30mn.^[69]

Magistrale for Europe

Planned high-speed rail link Paris – Bratislava

The Magistrale for Europe (MoE) is an initiative to promote railway expansion between Paris and Bratislava/Budapest, passing Strasbourg and Munich.^[77] Founded in 1990, the initiative is supported by numerous cities and regions along the line.^[78] Several railway projects, such as the LGV Est and Rastatt tunnel, have been promoted through the initiative.^[79]

Austria

The Western Railway between the capital Vienna and Salzburg is being upgraded. Most new sections have a continuous maximum design speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).^[80] German and Austrian ICE trains operate at a maximum speed of 230 km/h (143 mph), as do Austrian locomotive-hauled trains (called railjet) which were launched in 2008.

The 55 km (34 mi) Brenner Base Tunnel under construction will allow speeds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph).^[81][82] The first part of the New Lower Inn Valley railway was opened in December 2012 as part of an upgrade of the line connecting the future Brenner Base Tunnel and southern Germany, which is being upgraded from two tracks to four and to a maximum design speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The section is also part of the Berlin–Palermo railway axis.

The Koralm Railway, the first entirely new railway line in the Second Austrian Republic has been under construction since 2006. It includes a new 33 km (21 mi) tunnel (the Koralm Tunnel) connecting the cities of Klagenfurt and Graz. Primarily built for intermodal freight transport, it will also be used by passenger trains travelling at up to 250 km/h (155 mph). The time taken to travel from Klagenfurt to Graz will be reduced from three hours to one hour. The Koralmbahn is expected to be operational by 2025.

Switzerland

SBB EuroCity entering the Gotthard Base Tunnel

The French-Swiss co-operation TGV Lyria and German ICE lines extend into Switzerland, but given the dense rail traffic and the often difficult terrain, they do not attain speeds higher than 200 km/h (124 mph) (ICE3) or 160 km/h (99 mph) (TGV, ICE1, ICE2). The fastest Swiss train is the SBB RABe 501 also named Giruno. It is operated by the Swiss Federal Railways since May 2016. They can reach higher speeds than conventional trains on the curve-intensive Swiss network, however the top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) can only be reached on high-speed lines. The former Cisalpino consortium owned by the Swiss Federal Railways and Trenitalia used Pendolino tilting trains on two of its international lines. These trains are now operated by the Swiss Federal Railways and Trenitalia.

To address transalpine freight and passenger bottlenecks on its roads and railways, Switzerland launched the Rail2000 and NRLA projects.

Denmark

Current completed and approved high-speed lines set to be built or upgraded in Denmark

Denmark is currently building two high-speed corridors: an international corridor linking Sweden to Germany through Copenhagen South, and a national corridor aiming to reduce travel times between the five biggest cities to less than one hour.

Denmark's two biggest cities, Copenhagen and Aarhus, are about 300 km (186 mi) apart. There is a political target to reach a two-hour traveling time between them, and 200 km/h (124 mph) is set as a target speed.^[88] Some parts are planned to be rerouted because the present railway is too curvy. These new sections are to designed for at least 250 km/h (155 mph).

The top speed of some small sections of the main lines is 180 km/h (112 mph),^[89] but trains quickly pass through these and return to slower sections around 140–160 km/h (87–99 mph). Most parts of the rail network are unelectrified – thus slowing acceleration and top speed.^[90] Since 2007 it has been common practice for the infrastructure provider Banedanmark to pad the timetables with extra time to a near European record, so that trains only use the top speeds to make up for lost time.^[91][92] Some of the rolling stock running on the Danish rail network is capable of reaching 200 km/h (124 mph), the SJ 2000 and the IC4 (the IC4 is only allowed up to 180 km/h or 112 mph in regular operation).

Denmark's signalling system, which contains numerous obsolete components, is being replaced with ERTMS 2, to be finished in 2030. This is a requirement for speeds higher than 180 km/h (112 mph).^[93][94]

The railway line from Ringsted towards the future Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link was upgraded to a 200 km/h (124 mph) double-tracked line in 2021.^[95] Once the fixed link project is completed, Denmark will be able to link the Swedish high-speed lines with the rest of the European high-speed rail network. As Germany is electrifying and upgrading the Lübeck–Puttgarden railway from the current limit of between 100 and 160 km/h (62 and 99 mph) to 200 km/h (124 mph), the only non-highspeed section will be Lübeck–Hamburg.

In 2013 the Danish Government (consisting of the parties: the Social Democrats, the Danish Social Liberal Party and the Socialist People's Party) along with the supporting party Red–Green Alliance and the opposition party Danish People's Party entered an ambitious political agreement on the infrastructure project called "The Train Fund DK". The main component of the agreement is to raise taxes on the oil companies operating in the Danish parts of the North Sea in order to raise 2,8 billion pounds earmarked for railway upgrades. The first priority is to reduce the travel time between Denmark's two biggest cities, Copenhagen and Aarhus to two hours. This includes upgrading all main lines to handle speeds up to 200 km/h (124 mph) and building three new high-speed lines with speeds up to 250 km/h (155 mph), which later can be upgraded to 300 km/h (186 mph). Furthermore, all main lines and many regional lines will be electrified.^[96][97]

Finland

Running speeds on the Finnish railway network

In Finland the national railway company VR operates tilting Alstom Pendolino trains. The trains reach their maximum speed of 220 km/h (137 mph) in regular operation on a 60-kilometre (37 mi) route between Kerava and Lahti. This portion of track was opened in 2006. The trains can run at 200 km/h (124 mph) on a longer route between Helsinki and Seinäjoki and peak at that speed between Helsinki and Turku.^[102] The main railway line between Helsinki and Oulu is being upgraded between Seinäjoki and Oulu to allow for trains to run at speeds between 160 and 200 km/h (99 and 124 mph).^[103] Other parts of the Finnish railway network are limited to lower speed.

Between 2007 and 2010 the Russian line from the Finnish border to Saint Petersburg was electrified and improved to allow higher running speeds. The Finnish line (Riihimäki – Saint Petersburg Railway) was also upgraded where needed, mostly to 200 km/h (124 mph). In 2010, a new service called Allegro started between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg, using the improved network. The service has a journey time of 3½ hours. It utilizes a new Pendolino model, supporting both Finnish and Russian standards.^[104][105] Four new trains have been delivered, with a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph). As of 2022, the service is on hold, a consequence of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[106]

The planned Helsinki–Turku high-speed railway featuring new track from Espoo to Salo would be capable of maximum speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph), making this the fastest railway in Finland once built.

Iceland

A 49 km (30 mi) long railway, the first in Iceland, has been proposed to link Keflavík International Airport to the capital city of Reykjavík in order to relieve one of the country's busiest roads. The railway would accommodate high-speed trains of up to 250 km/h (155 mph), with an average speed of 180 km/h (112 mph), which would enable the distance to be travelled within just 18 minutes. As of 2022, the project had not advanced beyond the proposal stage.^[107]

Compared to widening the road, it would be more expensive (in the context of the country's relatively small economy), more environmentally destuctive, and probably more vulnerable to adverse weather conditions.

Norway

The Flytoget at Oslo station, Norway

Norway has several high speed stretches radiating from Oslo. These have speeds ranging from 200 to 250 km/h (124 to 155 mph). Several new railroad stretches are under construction and the complete Intercity triangle from Oslo will be finished by 2030.

Norway's only high-speed line is the 64 km (40 mi) Gardermobanen (The Gardermoen Railway), which links Oslo Airport (OSL) with the metropolitan areas of Oslo. Here the Flytoget (the Airport Express Train) and some of the NSB (Norwegian State Railways) trains operate at speeds of up to 210 km/h (130 mph).^[108] Gardermobanen contributes to give rail transport a relatively high market share. Almost 38% of the OSL passengers come by train, about 21% by bus, and about 40% by car.

Some more new high-speed lines are planned to be built in the Oslo region, during the 2010 and 2020 decades. Today, however, only small parts of Norway's rail network permit speeds faster than 130 km/h (81 mph).

There is a political climate for building more high-speed railway services in Norway, including long-distance lines from Oslo to Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger and Gothenburg. They are assumed to be dedicated single-track high-speed railways having up to 250 km/h (155 mph). This is still at the feasibility planning stages.^[109]

The Norwegian government is examining five lines radiating out from Oslo to Bergen, Kristiansand/Stavanger, Trondheim, Gothenburg, and Stockholm. A sixth line would be a coastal line between Bergen, Haugesund and Stavanger. At least two investigations on cost and benefit have been made. A more indepth analysis covering route analysis of the 6 lines will be made on order by the Norwegian government beginning late 2010.^[110]

The closest 50–100 km (31–62 mi) from Oslo on each of these lines have good potential for regional trains (except towards Stockholm). Upgrade and new construction to high-speed standard have to some extent already taken place like for Gardermobanen. More is being built and is planned, but with the present ambition it will take decades to have high-speed standard the closest 100 km (62 mi) from Oslo on all these lines. The ambition is to some day have 200 km/h (124 mph) or more to Halden, Skien, Hønefoss and Hamar. These projects have higher priority than the long-distance projects. They are also preconditions for the long-distance projects, since they will be used by long-distance trains.

Parts of the new built route Drammen–Tønsberg is in operation with trains (Stadler FLIRT) capable of 200 km/h.

Sweden

Newly built lines such as the West Coast Line, the Svealand line and the Bothnia line of the network can be relatively easily upgraded to 250 km/h (155 mph). This requires new signalling system, new trains and perhaps other minor efforts. The old main lines are difficult to upgrade due costs for increasing the bearing of the track. Most bridges and long sections of the main lines need to be rebuilt to allow 250 km/h (155 mph).

There are investigations regarding high-speed trains in Sweden, and to evaluate if the Western and Southern Mainline should be upgraded to 250 km/h (155 mph) or if a whole new network of high-speed railway for 280–320 km/h (174–199 mph) should be built between Stockholm–Linköping–Jönköping–Gothenburg and between Jönköping–Malmö–Copenhagen. The plan is to ease the situation on the existing railways that are relatively congested, combined with better travel times between both the largest three cities in Sweden, as well as fast regional trains between the cities along the routes (which today in many cases have no or slow railways).

An informal date suggestion by the Banverket is operation by year 2030. For two parts (Södertälje–Linköping and Mölnlycke–Bollebygd) detailed planning is done, and they are expected to have construction start by around 2017 and be in operation by around 2025.^[111][112]

Many of the newly built railway lines in Sweden are adapted for speeds up to 250 km/h (155 mph), such as Botniabanan, Grödingebanan, Mälarbanan, Svealandsbanan, Västkustbanan, and Vänernbanan.^[113] The problem that is slowing down high-speed rail in Sweden is the present signaling system (ATC), which does not allow speeds over 200 km/h (124 mph). It can be upgraded, but it will not be done since it shall be replaced by the European signaling system ERTMS level 2 on major lines in the near future, allowing high speeds up to 250 km/h (155 mph).^[114] ERTMS level 2 has been installed and is being tried out on Botniabanan, and that railway allows 250 km/h (155 mph), although no passenger train goes above 200 km/h (124 mph) for now. The train set X55-Regina has been delivered to the rail company SJ with the max speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) but with the option to upgrade the EMU to 250 km/h (155 mph) when possible.^[115] These trains haven't got increased speed as of 2022, but SJ has in 2022 ordered new Zefiro trains which shall be able to go in 250 kph. Also the mix with freight trains slow down the practical speed.

There are five major high-speed projects proposed in Sweden with speeds between 250 and 350 km/h (160–220 mph).

• Norrbotniabanan, Umeå–Luleå, is a future major rail project that will be built for 250 km/h (155 mph) with mixed passenger and freight traffic in northern Sweden, mainly to relieve the highly congested and old single track Main Line Through Upper Norrland increase freight traffic, and greatly speed up passenger traffic along the coast.^[116]
• Ostlänken: Järna–Linköping, which would relieve the congested and slow conventional main lines on the stretch Järna-Linköping, Södra stambanan.^[117][118]
• Götalandsbanan: Gothenburg–Borås–Jönköping–Linköping, connecting to Ostlänken. It would reduce travel time Gothenburg-Stockholm from 3.05 h to 2h, and much improve some regional travel times.^[119]
• Europabanan: Jönköping–Hässleholm and Helsingborg. The discussed extension to Helsingør (Tunnel under Øresund) and Copenhagen, is now (2016) unlikely due to Danish resistance.^[120]
• Hässleholm–Lund. The existing line is fairly fast at around 160 kph, but congested with mix of local and high-speed trains. A new parallel high-speed railway between these cities is planned in detail.

The three first listed and the last, but not Europabanan, have been prospected by Trafikverket. In several cases the detailed alignment have been decided. The Swedish Conservative government 2006–2014 showed little interest in major railway projects. But the socialist/environmentalist government has from 2014 started further negotiations on stations and other alignment. There is plan to start building Gothenburg–Borås and Ostlänken in 2019. The other railways are expected to be built some years after. As of 2022 there is no decision. A problem is that cost has been increasing a lot.

With the 2022 elections, the left-wing–green–liberal constellation lost its majority and a new right-wing government was formed, which cancelled the main high-speed rail projects in southern and central Sweden.^[121]

Turkey

Turkish HSR Network: High-speed rail lines in service, those under construction, and those in the planning stages

Turkey started building high-speed rail lines in 2003 aiming a double-track high-speed rail network through the country allowing a maximum speed of 250 km/h (155 mph)^[122] Only the planned line between Istanbul, Edirne and Kapıkule is situated in the European part of the country.

The first line that was built aimed to connect Istanbul to Ankara (via Eskişehir) reducing the travel time from 6–7 hours to 3.5 hours. The Eskişehir-Ankara line started operating regular services on 14 March 2009 with a maximum speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), being the first High Speed Rail Service in Turkey making the Turkish State Railways the 6th European national rail company to offer HSR services (although these are situated in the Asian part of the country). The Eskişehir-Istanbul(Pendik) line is inaugurated in 2014 and the line extended to Halkalı in European side with Marmaray project via Marmaray Tunnel on 12 March 2019.

The Ankara–Konya line construction began in 2006 and inaugurated in 2011. The travel time was cut to 70 minutes on this route. The Konya–Karaman route also began construction in 2016 and was inaugurated in February 2021. The construction of the Ankara–Kırıkkale–Yozgat–Sivas line began in February 2009 and inaugurated on 26 April 2023. The travel time between Ankara and Sivas is cut from 12 hours to 2.5 hours. Several other HSR line projects between major cities such as Ankara–Afyon–Uşak–İzmir, Ankara–Kayseri, Bilecik–Bursa–Bandırma, Istanbul–Edirne–Kapıkule (Bulgarian border), Karaman–Ulukışla and Mersin–Adana–Osmaniye –Gaziantep lines are in construction phase. In addition Eskişehir–Afyon–Antalya, Sivas–Erzincan and Aksaray–Ulukışla–Yenice lines are planned to be built in the coming years. The Antalya–Alanya–Konya and Erzincan–Erzurum–Kars lines are also in planning phase. The total length of constructed lines is.

The first 12 high-speed trainsets are ordered from CAF company, Spain. Several new trainsets from Siemens were also bought for the Ankara-Konya line, now operating in all HSR lines in Turkey.

Greece

Development of a modern rail network for Greece has been a major goal since the 1990s. In 1996, construction of what is currently known as the P.A.Th.E./P. was given the go-ahead. The line, which should have opened by 2004, would link Patras, Athens, Thessaloniki and the Greece–North Macedonia and Greece–Bulgaria borders in Idomeni and Promachonas respectively. The project faced lack of funding and construction difficulties. The Athens-Thessaloniki section has been finished, allowing a travel time of 3 hours 20 minutes, a reduction of three hours.

Hungary and Romania

November 2007, the two countries agreed to build a high-speed line between their capital cities Budapest and Bucharest which would be a part of a larger transportation corridor Paris-Vienna-Budapest-Bucharest-Constanța. As of 2023, the railway from Bucharest to Constanța support speeds up to 160 km/h (99 mph). The plan for a high-speed railway through Budapest-Arad-Sibiu-Brașov-Bucharest-Constanța was officially included in the revised TEN-T plan in October 2013 as part of the Rhine-Danube Corridor.^[123] In 2022, the Romanian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure announced a 120 million euros feasibility study for the construction of a high-speed line connecting Bucharest to Constanța and the Port of Constanța, as well as a line to Budapest, making use of the European Union Recovery Instrument following the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is planned to be finished by 2026. Two variants of the line to Hungary are studied, including one through the Olt river Valley, passing Sibiu, Cluj and Oradea with a length of 590 kilometres and an estimated cost of 17 billion euros. The second variant is a hybrid approach, which includes sections of lower speeds taking into account geographical aspects and economic profitability.^[124]

Hungary and Serbia

As a result of negotiations between the two European countries and China, it was decided to build a high-speed line between their capital cities Budapest and Belgrade, as a part of a larger corridor Budapest-Belgrade-Niš-Skopje-Thessaloniki-Athens, by upgrading the current Budapest–Belgrade railway line to 200 km/h (124 mph) in Serbia and to 160 km/h (99 mph) in Hungary.^[125][126]

The construction of the railway line in Serbia started in September 2017, when the construction of the Čortanovci tunnel began.^[127] The 75 km (47 mi) railway for speed up to 200 km/h (124 mph) between Belgrade and Novi Sad opened on 19 March 2022 (this part was divided in two sections: as of 2018, the Belgrade - Stara Pazova 34.5 km (21.4 mi) section was planned to be finished in the end of 2020 and the Stara Pazova - Novi Sad 40.4 km (25.1 mi) section in November 2021).^{[128][129][130][131]} The construction of the 107.4 km (66.7 mi) section between Novi Sad and Subotica (Hungarian border) was started on 7 April 2022 and is due to be completed for the end of 2024.^[132]

The construction of the Hungarian part of the railway, 152 km (94 mi), was started in October 2021 and is due to be completed by 2025.^[133][125] When the project is complete, the journey between Budapest and Belgrade should be reduced to 2h 40mn according to some sources and to 3h 30mn according to some others.^[128][126]

Serbia

After the realisation of a high speed line between Belgrade and Novi Sad, additional high speed connections within Serbia are planned as well as the modernisation of branch lines which will connect the main high speed line Subotica-Niš with neighbouring countries like North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Belarus

In 2017 Belarus authorities agreed to offer land territories to Chinese corporation CRCC for construction of a high-speed corridor between the EU and Russia through country territory. Chinese engineering companies are also interested in building highways and Russian high-speed railways running in connection with this route with possible interchange with the Moscow-Kazan high-speed corridor.^[139]

The Baltics

A north/south Rail Baltica line from Tallinn to Kaunas is planned to be constructed starting in 2019 and in service by 2026. The line would connect Tallinn and Kaunas via Pärnu, Riga and Panevėžys, while also providing connections to airports and railway terminals. The railway will be the first high-speed, 1435mm standard gauge railway in the Baltics. From Kaunas, it will be connected to the already existing high-speed network in Poland. Project speeds are 240 km/h (149 mph) for passenger trains and 120 km/h (75 mph) for freight traffic. About 80% of construction costs (totalling ca. 5 billion €) will be covered by the European Union, the rest will be paid jointly by the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian governments. Indirectly the railway may also link Helsinki, as there are plans for a Tallinn-Helsinki railway tunnel.^[140]

The project has been surrounded with controversy in all states, mainly due to environmental concerns and the cost of the project. According to surveys conducted to Estonia, public support remains around 60%, with the percent higher amongst people living in Tallinn and amongst people with higher education, while the percent drops in rural areas. Controversy has also surrounded the choice of route, with some proposing that the railway should also go through Tartu and Vilnius. However this has been dismissed as they are large detours, would increase the cost and bring no sufficient benefit.^[141]

Croatia

With the highway construction programme in its final stages, the Croatian parliament has passed a bill to build its first high-speed line, a new Botovo–Zagreb–Rijeka line, with an initial maximum planned speed of 250 km/h.^[142][143] The high speed rail will be ready by 2030.^[144]

Czech Republic

Map of planned high-speed railroads in Czechia

In 2004, the Czech Ministry of Transportation presented its plan for a high-speed rail network which should be roughly 660 km (410 mi) long.^[145] In 2017 the government approved five main lines connecting the biggest cities (main line being the RS1 Prague-Brno-Ostrava) and neighbouring countries. The operation speed should reach more than 300 km/h (186 mph) on most parts. Different parts of the expected network are at different stages of planning as of 2023, however construction of some should start by 2026.^[146]

The most challenging part of high-speed rail will be linking Prague and Dresden in Saxony via Ústí nad Labem which will require a new 25 km long tunnel through the Ore Mountains. It should have speed of 200km/h for personal transport and 110 km/h for freight transport.^[147] The tunnel is of a strategic importance for Czechia as in 2023 the only electrified line linking Germany and the Czech Republic goes through the narrow Elbe valley which capacity is limiting. The connection between Prague, Dresden and Berlin lies on the European Orient/East-Med Corridor, an important freight link to the North Sea ports. The rail connection was added to the German Bundesverkehrswegeplan 2015 (federal transportation plan) which lays out German transportation priorities until 2030, but it does not include the line in its highest priority category, making construction unlikely in the near term.^[148]

In regard to the rolling stock, the Czech Railways have been running the Super City Pendolino from Prague to Ostrava since 2005. The Pendolino is capable of operating at 230 km/h (143 mph), but trains that are in service are limited to 160 km/h (99 mph) due to the speeds the railways were constructed for. These limits may be raised in the future to 200 km/h (124 mph). For example the last parts of 4th transit corridor (Prague–České Budějovice) are already projected for 200 km/h (124 mph).^[149] The railjet rolling stock is also capable of 230 km/h (143 mph) and reaches that speed in Austria and Germany but is likewise limited to 160 km/h (99 mph) in the Czech Republic.

The Velim railway test circuit contains a large 13.3-kilometre (8.3 mi) track with a maximum allowed speed of 230 km/h (143 mph) for tilting trains and up to 210 km/h (130 mph) for conventional trains.^[150]

Hungary

In September 2022 the Hungarian Government has announced the purchase of 39 + 10 trains (composed of 7 carriages each) and 50 Siemens Vectron locomotives with the purpose of upgrading up to 2/3 of the existing long-distance passenger fleet running on domestic and international InterCity services of the Hungarian State Railways. The project foresees services similar to those provided by ÖBB's railjet services running in Austria as well as abroad, including between Budapest and Vienna (and forward to Munich or Zurich). The company plans to offer upgraded InterCity services on the following lines:

• Budapest–Miskolc–Nyíregyháza–Szolnok–Budapest loop
• Budapest–Pécs
• Budapest–Kecskemét–Szeged
• Budapest–Győr–Vienna (together with existing ÖBB railjet services)
• Budapest–Lake Balaton southern shore
• Budapest–Lake Balaton northern shore (after the line's electrification)
• Budapest–Prague
• Budapest–Warsaw
• Budapest–Belgrade
• possible services to the states of the Southern Balkans^[151]

The new rolling stock is capable of reaching running speeds up to 230 km/h (143 mph). However, currently the highest allowed speed limit in the country remains at 160 km/h on the Budapest–Hegyeshalom (Austrian border) line.

Furthermore, in January 2022, the Hungarian Government has also announced to conduct a feasibility study on a new high-speed line capable of reaching speeds up to 250–300 km/h between Budapest and Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, Romania.^[152]

Ireland

In 2020 the Irish Government confirmed it will be launching a study into an approximately 500 km (311 mi) high-speed railway from Belfast via Dublin to Cork and Limerick,^[153] which could cost around €15 billion.^[154]

Poland

Polish Railways New Pendolino in Wrocław, western Poland

Today, the main cities of Poland are linked by railway transport reaching 160 km/h (99 mph). On 14 December 2014, Polish State Railways started passenger service trains PKP Pendolino ED250 operating 200 km/h (124 mph) speed on 80 km (50 mi) line Olszamowice-Zawiercie (part of railway line called Central Trunk Line (CMK) from Warsaw to Katowice). Currently it is the line with highest railway speed in Poland. Several other sections of the Central Trunk Line will soon allow speeds of 200 km/h (124 mph) (with a current speed record set up by Pendolino Train on 21 November 2013 in Poland of 293 km/h (182 mph)). According to recent plans of PKP-PLK, sections of CMK between Warsaw and Gdańsk (145 km (90 mi)) and Warsaw-Kraków (additional 80 km (50 mi)) will be added to present section from no later than December 2015. That will make about 300 km (186 mi) of railways available for speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). Other sections will start operating at 200 km/h (124 mph) in 2016.

Polish Railways for many years did not possess the rolling stock to achieve speeds over 160 km/h (99 mph). Polish Railways planned to buy Pendolino trains in 1998, but the contract was cancelled the following year by the Supreme Control Chamber due to financial losses by Polish Railways. However, a new contract with Alstom Transport worth 665 million euros was signed in May 2011 and since December 2014, 20 Pendolino units service the Katowice/Kraków–Gdynia line and Wrocław/Warsaw line. However, Pendolinos in Poland are not equipped with tilting system, which would not be very useful on the flat Polish Plains. The lack of a tilting system for the Pendolino train along with choosing Alstom Transportation despite domestic train producers was a subject of broad debate in media and Polish Railways were heavily criticised for that purchase.

Other current plans call for a 'Y' line that will connect Warsaw, Łódź and Kalisz, with branches to Wrocław and Poznań. The geometric layout of the line will be designed to permit speeds of 36 km/h (22 mph). Construction was planned to begin around 2014 and finish in 2019. In the centre of the city of Łódź the 'Y' line will travel through a tunnel which will link two existing railway stations. One of them, Łódź Fabryczna, will be reconstructed as an underground station, work being scheduled to start in July 2010.^[155] In April 2009, four companies qualified for the second phase of a public tender to prepare a feasibility study for construction of the line. In April 2010, the tender for a feasibility study was awarded to a consortium led by Spanish company Ingenieria IDOM.^[156] The feasibility study project was granted €80 million in subsidy from European Union.^[157] The total cost of the line including construction and train sets was estimated at €6.9bn and is planned to be financed partially by EU subsidies.^[158]

In 2019, the program of the Solidarity Transport Hub (STH) or Central Communication/Transport Port (in Polish Centralny Port Komunikacyjny or CPK) was announced by the Polish government.^[159] This project envisages the construction of 2,000 km of high-speed railways as well as upgrades to 3,700 km of existing railways to connect the largest urban areas in Poland and surrounding countries. A new airport in central Poland will serve as the main transport hub for the entire country, with travel time by rail of under 2.5 hours to nearly all major Polish cities.^[160][161] The network will also connect Poland to the planned high-speed railway network of the Czech Republic and to Rail Baltica.

In 2020, the speed limit was raised to 200 km/h (124 mph) on the line from Warsaw to Gdynia.^[162]

Portugal

An Alfa Pendular train when its current livery was introduced (2017)

Since the 1990s, the Italian tilting train, the Pendolino, runs the Alfa Pendular service, connecting Portugal's mainland from the north border to the Algarve, its southern counterpart, at a speed of up to 220 km/h (137 mph).

High-speed connections between Spain and Portugal have been agreed upon and planned, but initial works had yet to begin when the projects were cancelled in 2012.^[163] The Portuguese government had approved the construction of six high-speed lines from the capital Lisbon to Porto, from Porto to Vigo, from Aveiro to Salamanca, from Lisbon to Faro, from Faro to Seville and from Lisbon to Madrid, bringing the two countries' capital cities within three hours of each other, at a max speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).^[164]

On 8 May 2010, The Portuguese Transport Minister signed off the 40-year PPP covering the construction of the Lisbon–Madrid high-speed line. The total cost was then put at €1.359bn for a double-track standard gauge line from Lisbon to the Spanish border. Also included was a broad gauge line from the Portuguese Port of Sines to the Spanish border. The line was expected to open by the end of 2013 and would reduce the journey time between Lisbon and Madrid to 2 hours 45 minutes,^[165] the project however, was cancelled in March 2012.^[163] In October 2020 the government proposed a 75-minute rail link between the country's two main cities, Lisbon and Porto.^[166] Also, the Atlantic Axis of the Northwestern Peninsula–Eixo Atlântico do Noroeste Peninsular high-speed railway connection between Portugal and Galicia (covering all the main cities between Setúbal-Vigo) was favoured as of 2020.^[167]

Russia

Two experimental high-speed trainsets (designed for 200 km/h (124 mph) operation) were built in 1974: locomotive-hauled RT-200 ("Russkaya Troika") and ER-200 EMU. The RT-200 set made only experimental runs in 1975 and 1980 and was discontinued due to unavailability of the ChS-200 high-speed locomotive – they were only delivered later. The ER-200 EMU was put into regular service in 1984. In 1992 a second ER-200 trainset was built in Riga. Both sets were in operation till 28 February 2009.^[170]

Instead of these outdated domestic trainsets, imported trainsets have been in operation since March 2009. Siemens Velaro trainsets have operated since 2009 between Saint Petersburg and Moscow, at speeds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph) and since 2010 between Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow, where service is limited to 160 km/h (99 mph). The Pendolino Sm6, similar to Finnish high-speed trains, began operation in 2010 between Saint Petersburg and Helsinki at up to 220 km/h (137 mph).

In February 2010 RZhD announced it would shortly release a proposal for a new high-speed line to be built parallel to the existing line between Saint Petersburg and Moscow due to congestion on the existing line.^[171] In April 2010 it was confirmed that a new Moscow–Saint Petersburg high-speed line with length of 660 km (410 mi) and running speed of up to 400 km/h (249 mph) was envisioned, cutting the journey time from 3h 45m to 2h 30m. It is expected the line to include stops at both Saint Petersburg and Moscow region airports.^[172][173] On 28 January 2011, Russia announced that the high speed rail link between Moscow and Saint Petersburg will be finished on time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The cost is expected to be "somewhere around" 10 to 15 billion euros, not including land purchases, said Denis Muratov, general director of High-Speed Rail Lines.^[174] The state will shoulder up to 70 percent of construction costs, with the remainder coming from outside investors. Most of that money is likely to come from international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Muratov said. Sberbank, VTB and VEB may also be interested. In fact, construction of this new Moscow–Saint Petersburg high-speed line didn't start.

Instead of it, on 13 May 2015 the Russian government announced that China Railway Group Ltd will build a 400 km/h (249 mph) high speed rail link from Moscow to Kazan by 2018 in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup where Kazan is one of the cities that will host some of the football matches. The cost of the Moscow–Kazan link is estimated at $21.4 billion. Train travel from Moscow to Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, will be shortened to just 3.5 hours instead of the more than 14 hours that it takes now. The opening date was later changed to 2020.

Cross border

Country-specific