Fyra Trains
2012
The Fyra high-speed rail service was introduced in 2012 to connect Amsterdam and Brussels. It quickly became a disaster and was forced to shut down within a month of launching. The Italian-made V250 trains were seldom on time if they left at all. One day cancellations would be due to parts falling onto the tracks and the next day due to damage caused by ice. The Dutch mockingly dubbed the Italian trains “Spaghetti-boemel” (slow spaghetti train) and “ALDI-trein” (after the discount supermarket). The Dutch Railways demanded refunds, sparking a legal battle, and while a partial refund was made, the Fyra Train remains a major embarrassment for the Dutch government.
Additional info:
Financial Times - Dutch scrap high-speed train deal and ask Italians for money back
VRT News - Fyra builder AnsaldoBreda comes with apologies
Planetizen - Dutch High-Speed Rail Dream Turns to Disaster
Politico - The Fyra fiasco