France and Italy give green light to high-speed rail link

[pampango]

France and Italy have signed an agreement to construct a high-speed rail link between Lyon and Turin. The line, which is due to be completed in 2023, will cut travel time between Paris and Turin to four hours, compared to the current seven hours.

The 8.5 billion-euro project will be funded by France and Italy with the EU providing 40 per cent of the money.

The project has sparked outrage on the Italian side of the border where many claim traffic levels are falling and the construction will hurt the environment.

Residents, environmental groups and 23 local mayors have joined forces to combat the construction and last week police moved in to detain 26 people in connection with last summers protest.

http://www.euronews.net/2012/01/31/france-and-italy-give-green-light-to-high-speed-rail-link/

Surprising that France, Italy and the EU have the money to fund something this expensive at a time like this.

[FrodosPet]

1. Head swimming time

It is a progressive ideal to support high speed rail. It's also a progressive ideal to support the environment and the people who will be displaced from their homes by building this thing.

Where in the world are the easy answers?

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Another link from last year

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/06/27/137449959/protest-against-italys-high-speed-rail-line-leaves-dozens-hurt

And I agree with the other poster - it's the balance between environment and well . . . Jobs. But I'm an infrastructure hawk for the US too.

It's important to note that they are now talking of property taxes on first homes in Italy to raise revenue.