The MoU will study “Smart and Affordable High-Speed Services in the European Union”. The study will demonstrate the most significant benefits deriving from the completion of a European high-speed rail network connecting the capitals and major cities of Europe, as well as the clear sustainability merits.
It will also demonstrate how and by when the accelerated investment in the transformation of rail and of the European high-speed rail network and services is a key element toward zero-emission, sustainable and equitable mobility.
The study also aims to foster a radical transformation of the rail system and deliver on European Green Deal objectives, including the achievement of a fully operational, multimodal, sustainable, and smart Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), with high-speed rail connectivity by 2050.
Commenting on the MoU, Walter Goetz, head of the Cabinet of the European Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean, said, “Our Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy aims to double high speed rail traffic by 2030 and triple it by 2050. I see a central role for rail in our future sustainable transport system, but rail must also fulfil its part in becoming a more attractive choice by getting more efficient, cost-effective, and innovative. Development of high-speed rail can certainly help us to get more people to consider rail as their means of transport and as their place of work.”
Alberto Mazzola, executive director at CER, added: “CER fully supports this important study which will show high speed rail’s potential to connect all continental EU capitals and major cities, as symbolized by the Connecting Europe Express in 2021, in a convenient and comfortable way, and the positive socio-economic benefits this will bring. While a lot has been achieved so far with national success stories connecting among others Paris-Lyon, Milan-Rome, Barcelona-Madrid, and Berlin-Munich, much more is needed if the ambitious objectives of the European Green deal and Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy are to be met - doubling high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and tripling it by 2050.”
Nick Brooks, secretary general at ALLRAIL, concluded, “We want to see high-speed trains with large capacities – 1,000 seats each – connecting places around Europe on a frequent basis. This will lead to low fares and high revenue. While other competing long distance transport modes are setting themselves net zero emission targets, rail can do it bigger and better. The outcomes of this study must enable high speed rail to become the backbone of long-distance travel in Europe.”