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1. |
Which parties are involved in the HST Connect Maastricht-Liège project? |
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The HST Connect Maastricht-Liège project partnership involves partners from a broad range of institutions, governments, business and tourism.
The following organisations are (on executive level) involved in the HST Connect Maastricht-Liège partnership:
City of Maastricht (NL);
City of Liège (B);
Province of Limburg (NL);
Thalys International (B);
Belgian Railways (SNCB, B);
Dutch Railways (NS, NL);
Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management (NL);
Ministère de l’Équipement et des Transports (Wallonie; B);
Euro Liège TGV (B) ;
Limburg Development Company LIOF (NL) ;
Tourist Office Maastricht (VVV, NL);
Maastricht Exhibition & Congress Centre (MECC, NL);
University of Maastricht (NL);
Camille Oostwegel ChateauHotels & -Restaurants;
The European Fine Art Fair (NL).
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2. |
What is the role of these parties? How important is the project for the parties involved? |
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The parties mentioned before are involved in the project’s Steering Committee. Furthermore two working groups are established, one on marketing issues and one on more technical issues (infrastructure) related to the project. The project enables parties to improve cooperation between them. Furthermore, an excellent train connection between Maastricht, Liège and further destinations will boost tourism and business in the Maastricht and Limburg area and its surroundings. |
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3. |
What has to be done before the train can start running? Does the railway line Maastricht-Liège (infrastructure) have to be adjusted? |
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The existing infrastructure doesn’t necessarily have to be adjusted. The current market research study will show what kind of a train connection will be most efficient: a Thalys-connection, a Belgian High Speed Train to Brussels or an improved shuttle service between Maastricht and Liège, offering an excellent correspondence with the international trains stopping in Liège. The main result should be that Maastricht and Limburg travellers should be able to travel to Brussels within the hour. |
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4. |
When will the Thalys run? |
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This will depend on the results of the market research study. The study will show what kind of a train connection best suits the needs of Maastricht and Limburg travellers: a Thalys-connection, a Belgian High Speed Train to Brussels or an improved shuttle service between Maastricht and Liège, offering an excellent correspondence with the international trains stopping in Liège. |
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5. |
What is the maximum line speed between Liège and Maastricht? |
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The actual line speed on the Maastricht-Liège railway line is 120 km/h on the Belgian part of the line, and 100 km/h on the Dutch part of the line. |
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6. |
Where does the train stop? |
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This will depend on the results of the market research study. The study will show what kind of a train connection best suits the needs of Maastricht and Limburg travellers: a Thalys-connection, a Belgian High Speed Train to Brussels or an improved shuttle service between Maastricht and Liège, offering an excellent correspondence with the international trains stopping in Liège. |
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7. |
How frequently will the train run? Daily, several times a day? |
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Again, this will depend on the results of the market research study. Several possibilities do exist, like an hourly shuttle service combined with a daily Thalys or an hourly Belgian High Speed Train to Brussels. |
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8. |
What about ticketing and the costs of a train ticket? |
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The HST Connect Maastricht-Liège project also focuses on the ticketing issue. At the moment it is not possible to buy a direct Thalys-ticket from Maastricht to Brussels or Paris. The only current possibility to buy a Thalys-ticket is to buy one via Rotterdam. One of the aims of the project is to make it possible to simply buy a ticket from Maastricht to Brussels, Paris or London through the Internet.
Furthermore, the current price for a ticket from Maastricht to Liège is much to high because travellers have to pay an extra supplement for crossing the border. Another important aim of the HST Connect Maastricht-Liège project therefore is to lower ticket prices, for instance through the inclusion of Maastricht in the Belgian railway pricing system.
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