New reports now show that the Pan European high speed rail network has taken a big step forward after the launch of a new coordinated timetable that sees journey times between key hubs across France, German, Belgium, Holland, Italy, and UK reduced. The opening of this new high speed link between Germany and Belgium means that the two countries, along with France, Holland, and the UK, can all share common timetables in the new year. This also means that journey times between several key European cities will now rival short haul flights.

This very long delayed Antwerp Amsterdam high speed link in Belgium and Holland has already cut off about 51 minutes of the Paris to Amsterdam journey time. This brings the total travel time down to three hours and 18 minutes. The opening of yet another line between Belgium and Germany completes the high speed route between Brussels and Aachen. This new line cuts 20 minutes off the Paris to Cologne journey time. This brings this total journey time down to three hours and 24 minutes.

It would also appear that Italy is going ahead and rolling out high speed rails as well. Next year’s timetable brings into service three new stretches of high speed rails. This will connect Turin in the North with Naples in the South. The completion of the Rome to Naples line will be able to cut 11 minutes from journeys, while a brand new line between Florence and Bologna will cut journeys between these cities by 20 minutes. With these new timetables, high speed rail is starting to give short haul flights a run for their money.