Originally Posted by
irishguy28
Sorry, Stimpy, but TGV is correct. The HSL-Zuid line from the Netherlands will have a max. speed of 300km/h when it reaches full operational capacity next year. At the moment, due to the technical/logistical challenges mentioned (the wrong rolling stock was ordered, among other problems) the trains are currently limited to 160km/h on the line (though as of this week they are still only running tests on the Amsterdam-Rotterdam part of the line, without carrying passengers), though this already is much faster than the current Dutch IC trains.
The information I have working inside the project differs from yours. I guess we'll have to wait and see, won't we? And EVERYTHING is about politics. It most certainly wasn't an mis-ordering issue that lead to the state of things.
To reply to an earlier post of yours - this is BRILLIANT news for customers. International rail routes will be deregulated from 2010 onwards - this is not comparable to what happened in the UK, where the train companies were privatised. No-one is "taking over" the train companies - it's more like an "open skies" deal where existing companies, and new ventures like the Air France-KLM/Veolia project, can offer services that currently are not possible. More choice, more value, more competition.
Very optimistic, but I see it as inevitable that prices will rise. Again, we'll see. Another thing that will be inevitable are rail personnel strikes if they fear that they will lose influence with "open rails".
