The European Commission has set out its Rail Action Plan,
which aims to tackle barriers standing in the way of creating long-distance and
cross-border train services across the European Union.
The plan, combined with changes to the Trans-European
Transport Network (TEN-T) to increase high-speed rail capacity and new European
Investment Bank (EIB) support for investment in rail, are paving the way for “a
real renaissance in rail”, according to the commission. It is part of a package
of measures aimed at boosting efficient and green mobility to help the EU meet
its targets of doubling high-speed train traffic by 2030 and tripling it by
2050.
Adina Valean, commissioner for transport, said: “Rail is one
of the most sustainable modes of transport we have. And yet this potential
risks going to waste – cross-border trips account for just 7 per cent of the
kilometres travelled by train.
“This Action Plan will help us make rail a more attractive
option for long and cross-border journeys. We have identified the main
barriers, from redundant national rules to complicated ticketing and the slow
uptake of digital technologies. Today we are setting out how to take down these
barriers, with passengers being the real winners.”
Solutions identified in the Action Plan include accelerating
digitalisation of the rail networks and creating more user-friendly ticketing
and access to the system. It also highlights the need for national policy
changes and access to modernised infrastructure to make it easier for operators
to launch long-distance services.
In addition, the plan recommends introducing sustainable
cross-border and/or multimodal collective transport through public service
obligations where necessary.
It also sets out the need to make sustainable rail travel a
more “attractive option for young people”.
The Commission said the new measures come on top of the
existing EU regulatory and policy framework for rail, which equips member
states and the sector with tools to implement the Single European Rail Area, to
remove barriers and to open the market for new players and services. The
Commission will continue to work towards implementing this framework.
Alongside the Action Plan, the Commission has presented a proposal
to revise the TEN-T regulation with new rules to ensure sufficient high-speed
train capacity and connections, including a minimum speed limit of 160 km/h for
all passenger services using the main TEN-T rail lines and measures to improve
connections between airports and railways.
Meanwhile, the EIB’s Green Rail Investment Plan will help
increase the availability of rolling stock within the EU by supporting public
and private investment in rail projects. Financing will also support
electrification of rail lines and the introduction of new technology.
The Commission said more of the actions included in the plan
need to be implemented “as a matter of urgency” in order for cross-border rail
travel to become an attractive option for passengers.
The announcement comes as rail firms Eurostar and Thalys continue to discuss a potential merger that would create a unified high-speed network of trains covering the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.