Cutting edge style, comfort, speed and design mark out the Italian high speed trains and in conjunction with the rest of Europe’s high speed fleet, offer Italian home owners the best way to arrive in Italy, relaxed and carbon neutral.

 Cutting edge style, comfort, speed and design mark out  Italian high speed trains and in conjunction with the rest of Europe’s high speed fleet, offer Italian home owners the best way to arrive in Italy, relaxed and carbon neutral.

 Rising aviation costs, airport waiting times, our desire to be mindful of our carbon footprint and the sheer joy of travelling from the UK whilst watching the ever-changing European landscape flit past the train window- is making more and more of us consider the train as the way to reach our second home in Italy.

 High speed European train travel allows you to sit back in style with a glass of wine, an enticing meal, access to the internet and enjoy the scenery as you head through some of Europe’s most exciting destinations to reach your Italian property.

 High speed rail is the most obvious choice for travel in Europe. Trains are streamlined, extremely comfortable, safe and fast and get you to all corners of Europe in style and incredible speeds. A recent TGV train reached 553km per hour, breaking the rail speed record.

Italy has long been renowned for it’s thrilling train journeys and excellent rail network and indeed Italy was a European pioneer in high-speed rail and the original home of the 'Pendolino' family of tilting trains.

The Italian high-speed rail network (TAV) has been evolving for many years, with several lines in various stages of development. It is projected that by 2009 continuous 'TAV' will be available from Turin to Salerno, around 60km south of Naples. Further works include Milan-Genoa and extensions in the far south of Italy.

Italy seems set to establish a European first in the operation of high-speed trains.  The recent news that Eurostar is set to lose its monopoly on Europe's high speed train services when new ‘open access’ laws come into effect at the beginning of 2010, means an  increase in competition which is expected to lead to a fall in prices.

High speed train travel has been booming at the expense of the surcharge ridden airlines.  Air France and other airlines such as Virgin Atlantic are  hoping to get a piece of the action.

All of which sounds like great news for European rail travel, the carbon neutral traveller and the traveller who wants to truly experience Europe as they journey across it in style.