High-speed train operator Eurostar shuttles passengers between London and cities in continental Europe. This year, it launched a direct service from London to Amsterdam, which runs twice a day.
London-Amsterdam Eurostar —
High-speed train operator Eurostar shuttles passengers between London and cities in continental Europe. This year, it launched a direct service from London to Amsterdam, which runs twice a day.
Eurostar
While London-Amsterdam is a direct route, there is no direct return. This is because the UK and Dutch governments are still in discussion regarding border controls. They are expected to come to an agreement in 2019, after which Eurostar will add extra services.
London-Amsterdam Eurostar —
While London-Amsterdam is a direct route, there is no direct return. This is because the UK and Dutch governments are still in discussion regarding border controls. They are expected to come to an agreement in 2019, after which Eurostar will add extra services.
Eurostar
The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, or XRL, opened in 2018. It links Hong Kong with the southern Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen via bullet trains. It zips to Guangzhou in just 47 minutes, instead of two hours on a slow train -- and Shenzhen, over the border from Hong Kong, in 14 minutes.
Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link —
The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, or XRL, opened in 2018. It links Hong Kong with the southern Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen via bullet trains. It zips to Guangzhou in just 47 minutes, instead of two hours on a slow train -- and Shenzhen, over the border from Hong Kong, in 14 minutes.
PHILIP FONG/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
But that's not all. From Hong Kong, the XRL provides easy access to more than 40 destinations in China's high-speed rail network -- as well as direct trains to Beijing and Shanghai, which take nine and around eight hours respectively.
Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link —
But that's not all. From Hong Kong, the XRL provides easy access to more than 40 destinations in China's high-speed rail network -- as well as direct trains to Beijing and Shanghai, which take nine and around eight hours respectively.
PHILIP FONG/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The XRL station in Hong Kong is located in the West Kowloon district in the heart of the city, providing passengers with an option to get to mainland China from a downtown location. Its opening was not without controversy, however.
Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link —
The XRL station in Hong Kong is located in the West Kowloon district in the heart of the city, providing passengers with an option to get to mainland China from a downtown location. Its opening was not without controversy, however.
ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Hong Kong is semi-autonomous and has a separate legal framework from mainland China. But parts of the station is governed by Chinese authorities and patrolled by mainland police -- which led to protests in Hong Kong.
Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link —
Hong Kong is semi-autonomous and has a separate legal framework from mainland China. But parts of the station is governed by Chinese authorities and patrolled by mainland police -- which led to protests in Hong Kong.
ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
When completed, the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem railway will reduce travel time between the two locations to under 30 minutes.
Tel Aviv-Jerusalem railway —
When completed, the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem railway will reduce travel time between the two locations to under 30 minutes.
Sarah Sendner/dpa/picture-alliance/AP
The Tel Aviv-Jerusalem route is not in operation yet -- but there is a service that shuttles between Ben Gurion airport, which is around 14 miles (23 kilometers) from Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem. The entrance of the new Jerusalem Izchak Navon station is pictured.
Tel Aviv-Jerusalem railway —
The Tel Aviv-Jerusalem route is not in operation yet -- but there is a service that shuttles between Ben Gurion airport, which is around 14 miles (23 kilometers) from Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem. The entrance of the new Jerusalem Izchak Navon station is pictured.
Sarah Sendner/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
This new route takes passengers between the Moroccan coastal city of Tangier and Casablanca, via the capital of Rabat and the northern city of Kenitra.
Tangier-Casablanca high-speed line —
This new route takes passengers between the Moroccan coastal city of Tangier and Casablanca, via the capital of Rabat and the northern city of Kenitra.
STR/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
It uses French-made TGV high-speed trains, reaching <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Ftravel%2Farticle%2Fmorocco-high-speed-tgv-trains%2Findex.html" target="_blank">speeds of 200 miles (322 kilometers)</a> per hour.
Tangier-Casablanca high-speed line —
It uses French-made TGV high-speed trains, reaching speeds of 200 miles (322 kilometers) per hour.
STR/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The BTK Railway, connecting the capitals of Azerbaijan and Georgia with Kars in Turkey, opened in 2017. In 2019, it will launch a new route from Baku to Ankara and Istanbul in Turkey -- the first direct train service between the two countries.
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway —
The BTK Railway, connecting the capitals of Azerbaijan and Georgia with Kars in Turkey, opened in 2017. In 2019, it will launch a new route from Baku to Ankara and Istanbul in Turkey -- the first direct train service between the two countries.
Stadler