New Dutch Trains Withdrawn (Article)

[ccos]

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2...s-ansaldobreda

And we thought the Mk IV introduction was problematic.

BRUSSELS — It was supposed to be the perfect 21st century link between two bustling European capitals. Instead, the new high-speed Fyra line connecting Amsterdam and Brussels turned into the missing link.

One month after the maiden trip, the Italian-built trains have been taken out of service.

Technical problems dogged the sleek new trains — which can go 250 kph (155 mph) — almost since the day they came into service Dec. 9. That has repeatedly caused delays between the Dutch and Belgian capitals, some 200 kilometers (125 miles) apart, instead of slashing more than an hour off the regular service the Fyra trains replaced.