The current train from Amsterdam to Frankfurt takes nearly 4 hours. With a distance of 450 km, that is far too long: the train from Paris to Strasbourg takes less than two hours over the same distance. Which is why French travelers prefer to take the train rather than the car or plane. Construction of high-speed rail could also drastically reduce travel time between Amsterdam and Frankfurt. And at the same time, car and air traffic between these cities will be reduced.

Frankfurt is an important hub. From there, trains travel on to Stuttgart, Basel, Zürich and Munich. If Frankfurt becomes accessible from Amsterdam within 2 hours, these destinations also become accessible in three to three and a half hours. Then, passengers are more likely to opt for trains to these busy flight destinations. This increases the use of environmentally friendly transport, and reduces the pressure on Schiphol Airport.

To connect Amsterdam and Frankfurt within 2 hours, construction of high-speed rail will be required. In January 2025, several Dutch newspapers published the following article indicating that this route would be best constructed via Eindhoven.

The sensible connection from Amsterdam to Frankfurt will go via Eindhoven

January 9, 2025

Rogier Vergouwen – Chairman High-Speed Rail Netherlands
Barth Donners – Consultant Strategic PT and international (long-distance) mobility at Royal HaskoningDHV

Many countries are building high-speed rail (HSR) to improve their infrastructure, economy and sustainability. China’s lead is well known, but countries like Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have built HSR (300 km/h and above) as well and are currently expanding their tracks.

Most European countries haven’t made any progress, but slowly Europe starts to realize that it will have to modernize its long-distance railways too. In May 2023, a European Citizens’ Initiative has put high-speed rail on the agenda with the aim to connect Europe’s capitals by HSR. Later, in April 2024, a strategic report on the European Single Market was published, recommending the European Commission to connect all Europe’s capitals by high-speed rail and to prioritize the implementation in the coming years. In September, the topic was mentioned for a third time, this time in Mr Draghi’s report to improve Europe’s competitiveness.

The benefits of HSR are well-known: economic growth for both capitals and regions, relief for airports (high-speed trains can replace short-haul flights), and a more sustainable mode of transportation: British research shows that high-speed trains emit 97% less than short-haul flights.

For the Netherlands, the construction of an HSR-network between the major cities of Europe would require to connect Amsterdam to Hamburg and Copenhagen in the north; Berlin in the east, and Frankfurt in the southeast. Frankfurt is connected to many other European cities, making Stuttgart, Munich, Basel, Zürich, Vienna and Milan easily accessible. Although the current train to Frankfurt travels via Arnhem and the Ruhr area, a new route via Eindhoven would make more sense.

Economically speaking, there are two key determinants of success for a high-speed rail line. The first is the speed at which a train can travel. Most travelers choose their mode of transportation based on the shortest travel time. The faster a train can run and the fewer stops it makes, the shorter the voyage will take, and consequently the more passengers will favor the HSR above the airplane or car. Furthermore, not only will Frankfurt be reached in less than 2 hours: Munich (800 km) will become accessible in only 4 hours. Consequently, more travelers to the latter destination will choose the train over the plane too.

The current ICE-train Amsterdam – Frankfurt (about 450 kilometers) is able to travel at speeds of 300 km/h, but since it runs till Cologne over track unsuitable for high speeds while making frequent stops as well (Amsterdam – Utrecht – Arnhem – Oberhausen – Duisburg – Düsseldorf – Cologne), this “fast” train ends up as a local train: these first 250 km of the journey take nearly 3 hours. The remaining 200 km between Cologne and Frankfurt does largely consists of high-speed track, thus enabling the train to cover this distance in about one hour. The total journey time is therefore 4 hours, whereas a train traveling over modern high-speed rail between Paris and Strasbourg (also 450 km) takes 1:45 hours only.

In order to shorten travel time, the current track through Arnhem and the Ruhr area can be upgraded to high-speed rail. But as long as the train travels through major cities of the Ruhr area and frequently stops, speed and time gains will be limited. A high-speed line Amsterdam – Eindhoven – Cologne can be built through less built-up areas and therefore offers better opportunities to reach Frankfurt in less than 2 hours. For the connection with the Ruhr area, the current train via Arnhem can continue to service.

The second success factor is the economic impact for the region. Starting in Amsterdam, a high-speed train can travel non-stop to Frankfurt, while 10 minutes later another high-speed train can depart over the same track, making an intermediate stop in Eindhoven. Eindhoven is an economic engine of the Netherlands, and an excellent connection to both Amsterdam and Germany will further boost the region’s (and the country’s) economy and prosperity.

Meanwhile, the President of the European Commission has adopted the plans: Ursula von der Leyen has instructed the new European Commissioner for Transport to develop an ambitious plan to connect Europe’s capitals by high-speed rail. It will improve Europe’s economy and its competitiveness. Hopefully, the Netherlands will get started soon as well. Since unnecessary high emissions, congestions at Schiphol Airport, and 4-hour train journeys that could be completed in less than 2 hours by true HSR are no longer acceptable in today’s world.