High-speed rail is a rail passenger service running at much higher speeds than normal passenger trains.
The network of the trans-European high-speed rail system includes:
- specially built high-speed lines equipped for speeds generally equal to or greater than 250 km/h;
- specially upgraded high-speed lines equipped for speeds of the order of 200 km/h;
- specially upgraded high-speed lines which have special features as a result of topographical, relief or town-planning constraints, on which the speed must be adapted to each case.