Connect Amsterdam, Berlin by high speed train: Petition

A petition calling for a high speed train connection between Amsterdam and Berlin was signed over 6,400 times. According to initiator Pelle Berting, making such a high speed train really compete with air traffic holds all kinds of benefits to the climate.

There is already a high speed train between Amsterdam and Paris that makes the journey in three hours. And soon you'll also be able travel between Amsterdam and London by train in around four hours.

But the train trip to Berlin still takes around 6.5 hours. While a plane can have you there within an hour, and often for cheaper too. According to Berting, this makes it difficult to do the right thing. 

"The Netherlands, Germany and other countries in Europe are committed to making their economies climate neutral and therefore future-proof. But the impact of our desire to travel and business traffic remains unaffected", Berting writes on the petition.

"We see all te commotion around Schiphol, Lelystad and other regional airports in the Netherlands. It is very clear: aviation has reached its limits, it is enough. For local residents and nature. And certainly also for the climate."

According to Berting, the train journey between Amsterdam and Berlin can be shortened by only stopping at the main stations. He will hand his petition to NS and State Secretary Stientje van Veldhoven of Infrastructure.

NS is currently in talks with the Deutsche Bahn on improving the connection between the two capitals, according to NOS. But so far nothing concrete has come of it. "If we pass the smaller stations by, other trains will have to catch that, that's the puzzle for us", a spokesperson said to the broadcaster.