Overview
- The European Commission published a high-speed rail action plan on November 5 that sets a 2040 goal for a faster, interoperable network across the TEN-T corridors.
- The plan calls for binding milestones by 2027 to remove cross-border bottlenecks and contemplates higher operating speeds, including above 250 km/h where economically viable.
- Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said a single European mobile multimodal ticket is expected from 2026, enabling one-click booking across multiple rail companies and transport modes.
- Measures to mobilize investment and modernize operations include a coordinated financing strategy with member states and financiers, accelerated EU digital traffic-management deployment, stronger cross-border ticketing and reservations, support for a used rolling-stock market, and expanded R&D.
- The Commission highlights major time savings on priority routes, including Berlin–Copenhagen cut to about four hours and Sofia–Athens to about six, with simpler links such as Paris–Lisbon via Madrid and improved connectivity among the Baltic capitals.