An ambitious plan to create a single European high-speed rail network and a parallel investment plan for sustainable transport were presented in Brussels on Wednesday (5 November) by the Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and the Executive Vice-President of the Commission for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fito.
The aim of the two initiatives – the European High-Speed ??Rail Plan and the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) – is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the European transport system, at a time when the transition to green energy is a strategic priority for the Union.
High-speed rail as a pillar of connectivity
Commissioner Tzitzikostas presented the Commission’s new vision for a European high-speed rail network by 2040, which will bring the continent’s capitals and major cities closer together, dramatically reducing travel times.
According to the examples he gave, the Berlin-Copenhagen journey will be reduced from seven to four hours by 2030, while Athens-Sofia will be connected in just six hours by 2035, instead of fourteen today.
The plan is based on four pillars:
- Infrastructure: Of the 12,000 km of high-speed rail that currently exist, most are located in four countries – Spain, France, Italy and Germany. Central and Eastern Europe remains poorly connected. The completion of the network requires investments of €550 billion, with estimated social benefits of €200 billion. The full deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) will play a central role, enhancing safety and interoperability.
- Software: New legislation will simplify cross-border reservation systems, so that passengers can book tickets for entire journeys with a single click.
- Equipment procurement: The Commission plans to revise public procurement rules, with the aim of producing high-speed trains faster and cheaper and strengthening European industry against Asian competitors.
- Governance: The role of the European Railway Authority (ERA) and closer coordination between member states are foreseen.“We want more high-speed connections that will strengthen local communities and the economy,” the Commissioner noted, adding that this initiative “is crucial for strengthening European cohesion and competitiveness.”
STIP: The Sustainable Transport Investment Plan
In parallel, the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) aims to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy in aviation and shipping, sectors that are still dependent on fossil fuels.
Europe, according to Mr Tzitzikostas, should produce 20 million tonnes of sustainable fuels by 2035, requiring investments of €100 billion. Despite the high prices – from two to ten times higher than conventional fuels – the Commission sees this challenge as an opportunity for strategic autonomy and industrial development.
STIP will initially mobilise €2.9 billion from existing European funding programmes, while the “eSAF Early Movers Coalition” initiative is also launched with €500 million for synthetic fuels projects. At the same time, a simplification of the regulatory framework is foreseen to accelerate investment and innovation.
Benefits and prospects for Greece
Responding to a question on the importance of the programme for Greece, the Commissioner stressed that the country “will reap significant benefits, mainly in railway sections that have been damaged by natural disasters or remain problematic”.
As he said, through the CEF mechanism and the Greek NSRF for Infrastructure and Transport, Greece can attract European and private funding for rehabilitation and modernisation projects, particularly on the North-South axis.
“This agreement is proof of Europe’s support for Greece, with funding, expertise and substantial assistance to build a railway system that is safe, fast and fully connected to the European network,” the Commissioner stressed.
