The European Commission has unveiled a plan that aims to significantly reduce travel times by train between European capitals by 2040.
“Improving travel times between the capitals across Europe is a tangible and pragmatic result of our desire to make Europe more united and efficient,” stated Vice President Raffaele Fitto following the presentation of the plan, which aims to connect key hubs at speeds of 200 kilometers per hour and more.
For example, the travel time between Berlin and Copenhagen would be reduced from seven to four hours. The plan also includes a new high-speed train service between Lisbon and Paris via Madrid. This would allow train travelers to make the journey between the French and Spanish capitals in a span of six hours.
Belgian Member of the European Parliament Kathleen Van Brempt (Vooruit/S&D) points out that previous Commissions had already set the goal of doubling high-speed train traffic by 2030 compared to 2015. “But today, that train traffic has barely increased by 17 percent. Mainly due to poor connections and missing infrastructure,” said Van Brempt.
The Commission now wants to take action on this again. It sees high-speed trains as a sustainable alternative to short-haul flights. Trains emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases compared to airplanes, boats, cars, or buses. According to the Commission, rail accounts for barely 0.3 percent of emissions in the transport sector.
