The European Commission wants to accelerate the rollout of the high-speed rail network by 2040. By significantly reducing travel times between European capitals, rail is set to become a more attractive alternative to short-haul flights.
The ambitious plan also includes a new high-speed connection between Lisbon and Paris via Madrid. This would allow train passengers to travel between the French and Spanish capitals in six hours. The travel time between Berlin and Copenhagen would be reduced from 7 to 4 hours, and that between Sofia and Athens from 13 hours and 40 minutes to 6 hours.
Budget of €345 billion to €546 billion
Previous Commissions had already set the target of doubling train traffic at speeds of 200 km/h or more by 2030 compared to 2015. “But today, train traffic has barely increased by 17%. This is mainly due to poor connections and a lack of infrastructure,” says Belgian MEP Kathleen Van Brempt (Vooruit), although the low prices offered by some airlines undoubtedly also play a role in this.
Currently, the EU has 11,500 km of HSR lines in operation, 5,000 km under construction, and another 8,000 km planned. However, in terms of HSR mileage, the EU lags Asia, which has the world’s largest HSR network, covering tens of thousands of kilometers. Nevertheless, the good infrastructure in several countries, the relatively high city density, and the short distances between major cities make HSR a viable option in the EU.
The Commission now wants to set binding deadlines by 2027 to remove cross-border bottlenecks. It also aims to bring together member states, financial institutions, and the sector next year to agree on investments. According to estimates, completion will cost around 345 billion euros. A more ambitious network, with speeds above 250 km/h, could cost 546 billion euros by 2050.
More integrated approach
To make international rail travel more attractive, the Commission will also present a proposal early next year to make it easier for passengers to find and purchase tickets for journeys involving different rail companies. It also wants to give new operators better access to stations, depots, ticket platforms, and suitable rolling stock, precisely to stimulate competition.
However, there is still a long way to go before this becomes a reality. Not only is the investment requirement enormous, but there are also significant national differences in standards, authorization procedures, rolling stock, and interoperability. Furthermore, there is still uncertainty about profitability, even though the Commission claims that 1 of the investments has the potential to generate €2,3 in economic returns.
Trains emit far fewer greenhouse gases than planes, boats, cars, or buses. According to the Commission, rail accounts for just 0,3% of transport sector emissions. Road, water, and air transport account for 73,2%, 14,2%, and 11,8% of emissions, respectively.
