Overview
- Brussels presented a TEN‑V action plan to link key nodes at 200 km/h or more and sharply reduce travel times between major EU cities by 2040.
- Example targets include Berlin–Copenhagen in about four hours, Munich–Rome in six hours, and Berlin–Vienna via Prague in roughly four and a half hours.
- The Commission estimates completion costs at about €345 billion by 2040, rising to as much as €546 billion by 2050 if higher top speeds above 250 km/h are pursued.
- Financing is expected to combine private investment with loans and guarantees from the European Investment Bank and national promotional banks, with EU funds used to mobilize additional capital.
- Measures aim to remove cross‑border rail obstacles, improve conditions for operators and industry, and support research and innovation, with officials emphasizing unity, business travel and competitiveness versus short flights.