High-Speed Trains Connecting Amsterdam and Brussels Shuts Down

Just as Spain's high-speed rail network gets a boost, another suffers a setback: According to the Associated Press, the new Fyra train connecting Amsterdam and Brussels have been suffering "technical problems" since their debut last month. These problems have caused repeated delays on trips between the Dutch and Belgian capitals that were supposed to be more than an hour shorter than the regular service the Fyra trains—which can go as fast as 155 miles per hour—replaced.

On Friday, Belgian officials halted the service. Belgian rail executives then met on Monday to discuss the next step, and DutchNews.nl is reporting that the Belgian railway authority NMBS, jointly responsible for Fyra with the Dutch, said it would be bringing back a direct link between Roosendaal and Antwerp. The Dutch transport minister, meanwhile, warned it could take months for Fyra trains to get back on track.