How rail journeys across Europe could be made faster in the coming years

"The European Commission wants to make rail trips between major European cities faster and easier for international travellers, and has launched a new strategy with this aim in mind. The Commission said its new plan would accelerate the development of high-speed rail across the EU by boosting fast, comfortable, safe and reliable rail services. The strategy is also in line with climate targets, it said, noting that it supports the EU's goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050."

"High-speed rail is not just about cutting travel times - it is about uniting Europeans, strengthening our economy, and leading the global race for sustainable transport, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas said in a statement. READ ALSO: Swiss national railway unveils new night train to Sweden via Denmark and Germany He added that, with the plan, we are turning ambition into action: breaking down barriers, mobilising investments for modern infrastructure, and making cross-border rail the backbone of a carbon-neutral, competitive, and secure Europe."

"In the statement, EC gave several examples of connections which it said could see their rail journey times cut in half in the coming years. These include cutting journey times from Athens to Sofia to six hours and Copenhagen to Berlin to just four hours."

The European Commission launched a strategy to speed and simplify rail travel between major European cities by accelerating high-speed rail development across the EU. The plan aims to boost fast, comfortable, safe and reliable cross-border rail services while supporting the EU goal of climate neutrality by 2050. The strategy emphasizes economic integration, mobility, and leadership in sustainable transport, and calls for removing barriers and mobilising investments for modern infrastructure. Examples include halving journey times such as Athens–Sofia to six hours and Copenhagen–Berlin to four hours, despite a Femern Belt tunnel delay affecting completion timing.

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