Priority Project 2

 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This is Europe’s first cross-border high speed passenger rail project, linking major cities in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The PBKAL (Paris-Brussels-Köln-Amsterdam-London) network offers substantial reductions in journey times between the five countries and therefore provides passengers with a real alternative to air and road transport. It also enables improved connections between some of Europe’s key airports - Brussels, Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol.

It has been completed with no financial or environmental problems outstanding. The high speed line drastically improved the connection between United Kingdom and the European mainland and significantly reduced journey times between the cities of the most densely populated area of Europe, the so-called “Blue Banana” and Paris. Furthermore, it also contributes to the promotion of intermodal rail-air journeys, and thereby helps achieve the transport policy objectives of the Community.