The train giants of France and Germany are at war over European high-speed rail
AT THE Gare de l’Est in Paris, Franco-German co-operation seems on track. Deutsche Bahn inter-city express (ICE) trains glide in from Frankfurt and SNCF sends trains deep into Germany, thanks to a joint venture between the two firms. Every train has a French and a German controller on board. Despite wrangling over details—French unions, for instance, refused to let their head conductors serve meals to first-class passengers, so the Germans have to do it all—they get along well. “When we’re on the same train, we’re a team,” says Marine Dubois, the French controlleur on the 13.09 ICE to Frankfurt.
The joint venture between Deutsche Bahn and SNCF, the German and French rail giants, was launched in 2007 amid high hopes. Boosters predicted an open European market where trains and passengers would cross borders without fuss. But old national rivalries are resurfacing. Relations at the top have turned nasty. The joint venture could even be at risk. ...
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