The Paris - Luxembourg - southern Germany - Zurich area forms a sizeable market with a very dense population basin of over 25 million people. There are an estimated 7 million and more international journeys for all modes combined in this area, so the conditions are ideal for a high-speed rail product.

The infrastructure built for the East European TGV, the new high-speed line under construction in France between the town of Vaires, near Paris and Baudrecourt southeast of Metz, will cut over 2 hours of travel time as of 2007. In addition, sections of conventional line in Germany and in Luxembourg will be up-graded to run trains at higher speeds.