Trans Europ Express

The Trans Europ Express, or Trans-Europe Express, is a former international railway service in Europe. At its maximum extent, in 1974, the network comprised 45 trains, connecting 130 different cities.Haydock, David (June-July 1996). "The Second Demise of the TEE". Today's Railways, p. 22–24. Platform 5 Publishing (UK). ISSN 1354-2753.

Origin

The Trans Europ Express (TEE) network was set up in 1957Nock, O.S. (1978). World Atlas of Railways. New York: Mayflower Books (original publisher: Artists House, London, UK). ISBN 0-8317-9500-X. following an idea of F.Q. den Hollander, president-director at that time of the Dutch railway company (NS). It was a network jointly operated by the railways of West Germany (DB), France (SNCF), Switzerland (SBB-CFF-FFS), Italy (FS) and the Netherlands. Although some trains operated through Belgium from the beginning, the national railway company (NMBS/SNCB) joined only in 1964. Luxembourg (CFL) also joined at a later date.

The idea was for a network of fast and comfortable international trains that would be attractive to businessmen and other regular travellers. All trains were first-class-only and required payment of a special supplement over the normal first-class ticket price, the amount of which depended on the distance covered.<ref...
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