High-speed rail damaging Europe's rail system

From Low-Tech magazine:

The introduction of a high speed train connection invariably accompanies the elimination of a slightly slower, but much more affordable, alternative route, forcing passengers to use the new and more expensive product or abandon the train altogether. As a result, business people switch from full-service planes to high speed trains, while the majority of Europeans are pushed into cars, coaches and low-cost airplanes.

China has the same problems with its high-speed rail system.

Thanks to the Antiplanner for the link.

In other high-speed rail news, Kathy Hamilton reports that the High-Speed Rail Authority routinely stonewalls requests for documents: 

Attempting to get information from the High-Speed Rail Authority is like pulling teeth, since they often delay or refuse to give information when it may be detrimental to the project.

This is probably the kind of information they don't want the public to have.