European railway companies have decided to undergo a facelift. A consortium of 11 railway companies are joining hands to develop a crossborder European communications network. It plans to lay fibre optic cables alongside Europe's rail lines to provide an uninterrupted network transnationally. The consortium has linked up with Global Telesystems Group, an independent US developer and telecommunications company operator, and floated a joint venture -- Hermes Europe Railtel.

Hermes hopes to flourish by catering to growing demands for crossborder communications generated by the introduction of multimedia and regulatory approval for alternative carriers.