| Service / Route | Primary Countries | Status (H2 2025) | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eurostar (London–Paris/Brussels/Amsterdam) | UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands | Existing (since 1994) | Eurostar Group (Eurostar) |
| Thalys (Paris–Brussels–Amsterdam/Cologne) – rebranding as Eurostar | France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany | Existing (since 1996) | Eurostar Group (Thalys) |
| TGV InOui / Ouigo (national network, e.g. Paris–Lyon, Paris–Bordeaux, etc.) | France (plus int’l links to BE/CH/ES/IT) | Existing (since 1981; Ouigo since 2013) | SNCF (France) |
| TGV Lyria (Paris–Geneva/Zurich) | France, Switzerland | Existing | SNCF & SBB (joint venture) |
| ICE (national network, e.g. Frankfurt–Cologne, Berlin–Munich) | Germany (plus int’l links to FR/BE/NL/CH/DK) | Existing (since 1991) | Deutsche Bahn (DB) |
| Railjet (Vienna–Salzburg–Innsbruck, etc.) | Austria (int’l links to DE/CH/IT/CZ/HU) | Existing (since 2008) | ÖBB (Austrian Railways) |
| Westbahn (Vienna–Salzburg private service) | Austria | Existing (since 2011) | Westbahn (private) |
| Frecciarossa (Turin–Milan–Florence–Rome–Naples, etc.) | Italy (int’l link: Milan–Paris) | Existing (since 2009) | Trenitalia (FS Group) |
| Italo (Milan–Venice, Milan–Rome–Naples, etc.) | Italy | Existing (since 2012) | Italo – NTV (private) |
| AVE (Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–Seville, etc.) | Spain | Existing (since 1992) | Renfe (Spanish Railways) |
| Avlo (low-cost high-speed, e.g. Madrid–Barcelona) | Spain | Existing (since 2021) | Renfe (low-cost brand) |
| Ouigo España (Madrid–Barcelona and beyond) | Spain | Existing (since 2021) | SNCF (Ouigo subsidiary) |
| Renfe in France (Paris–Lyon–Marseille & Paris–Barcelona) | France, Spain | New (launched late 2024) | Renfe (AVE France) |
| Eurostar Italia (Milan–Paris Frecciarossa service) | Italy, France | Existing (since 2021) | Trenitalia France |
| Budapest–Belgrade High-Speed | Hungary, Serbia | New (opening ~late 2025) | MÁV & Srbija Voz (nat’l railways) |
| Athens–Thessaloniki Express | Greece | Existing (upgraded 2022) | Hellenic Train (FS Group) |
| YHT (Ankara–Istanbul) | Turkey (Europe–Asia link) | Existing (since 2009) | TCDD Taşımacılık (Turkey) |
| YHT (Ankara–Konya–Karaman) | Turkey | Existing (since 2011; ext. 2022) | TCDD Taşımacılık |
| YHT (Ankara–Sivas) | Turkey | New (opened Apr 2023) | TCDD Taşımacılık |
| Istanbul–Sofia High-Speed (via Halkalı–Kapıkule line) | Turkey, Bulgaria | New (launch expected 2025) | TCDD & BDZ (Turkey/Bulgaria) |
| X2000 / SJ High-Speed (Stockholm–Gothenburg/Malmö) | Sweden | Existing (since 1990) | SJ (Swedish Railways) |
| EIP Pendolino (Warsaw–Gdańsk/Kraków) | Poland | Existing (since 2014) | PKP Intercity (Poland) |
Western Europe
France and Benelux
France was a pioneer of high-speed rail in Europe and today has an extensive TGV network radiating from Paris. French high-speed lines (LGV – Lignes à Grande Vitesse) connect Paris to major cities: Paris–Lyon (~2 hours), Paris–Bordeaux (~2h 5m), Paris–Marseille (~3h 15m via Lyon), Paris–Lille (~1h) and more. These lines operate at up to 300–320 km/h with SNCF’s TGV InOui services (standard TGV trains) and Ouigo (low-cost, all-reserved TGV trains). Ticket reservations are mandatory on TGVs. Paris is the primary hub – it has multiple terminus stations for high-speed lines (Gare de Lyon for southeast routes, Montparnasse for west/southwest, Nord for north and Eurostar/Thalys, Est for east). Other TGV hubs include Lyon Part-Dieu (key interchange between north–south routes) and Lille Europe (connecting London/Brussels and domestic TGVs).
Tags: France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, UK, Europe world’s most extensive high-speed rail networks
