The announcement that travel time from Paris to Berlin by train has been reduced by five hours is causing some debate. While the new service claims significant time savings, several commenters argue that previous routes with a single change were not much slower, and express skepticism about the comparison. Commentary also touches on the broader context of international train travel, comparing the efficiency of European trains to China's extensive high-speed rail network. Additional concerns were raised about infrastructure issues within Germany's rail system, particularly the reliance on outdated analog signal boxes, which could impact overall efficiency and reliability. Fare structures are also mentioned, highlighting potential fluctuations based on demand, booking time, and cancellation policies.