Watch Out, EasyJet: Europe's Newer, Faster Trains Are Gunning For You

Noting the contrast between their own skeleton rail service and Europe’s huge networks, Americans tend to think of Western Europe as a rail paradise. When it comes to cross-border travel, it isn’t really, but new lines announced this summer are certainly pushing it closer to the ideal. As of last month, Londoners have a new direct train service to the southern French holiday city of Aix-en-Provence, lasting just over five hours, while in autumn a direct Paris to Barcelona high speed TGV link begins, with a journey lasting just six hours, 25 minutes (on regular trains it's closer to nine).

Most groundbreaking of all, German state railway company Deutsche Bahn has this month gained rights of access to the channel tunnel. Starting in 2016, the company plans to run new direct services from London to Amsterdam and Cologne (taking four hours each) and to Frankfurt (taking five hours).