Paris and Berlin linked with new high-speed train service - that's just 1% of the CO2 emissions of the equivalent flight

[Simon]

A new high-speed train service between Paris and Berlin aims to provide a more convenient and environmentally friendly alternative to travel between the two major European cities.

The direct service was launched last month and tickets starts at only €59. But a one-way ticket for the full trip will cost upwards of €99, and the prices will rise if you plan on travelling on more busy days.

While the 1,100-kilometre journey between Paris and Berlin is just 1 percent of the total carbon emissions of the equivalent flight journey, the full trip between the two cities will take a full 8 hours. Flights will make the same journey in only one hour and 45 minutes — with budget airlines offering tickets at only half the cost compared to this new train service.

The reason that it will take a full 8 hours is partly because it stops at Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, and Strasbourg along the way. But also because for most of the trip, the train is just barely meeting the definition of high-speed rail travel. The trains will run at up to 320 km/h while in France, but that speed will see a significant drop to a maximum of 250 km/h when it travels in Germany.

This new route is part of a broader effort supported by the European Union to promote environmentally friendly travel and improve rail connectivity in Europe. But when compared to China, it also shows how far behind Europe is when it comes to public transportation.

China’s rail network spans more than 160 000 kilometres in total. And of those, 46,000 kilometres are high-speed rail — the largest such network in the world — with average speeds between 200–380 km/h. And late last month, China's railway operator unveiled a new prototype high-speed train capable of reaching 450 km/h, making it the world's fastest commercial train. China is clearly rushing into the future, while the rest of the world refuses to leave the past behind. The West are stubborn old fossil fuel dinosaurs that can only do wars and death — it seems.

[Simon]

And here's a video of the full trip:

This trip took 8 hours and 8 minutes and his first class ticket cost €69.