(ORDO NEWS) — At the end of June, a meeting of members of the European railway community was held in Lyon, France. Industry leaders have unveiled an ambitious plan to double high-speed rail use by 2030 and triple by 2050.
The meeting discussed the concept of creating a new network of high-speed passenger trains on the continent, which will stretch between the largest European cities. It should be a super-fast, ultra-modern, cheap and carbon-neutral system that can challenge budget aviation.
Away from airplanes
– The main goal of creating such a system is to try to find an alternative to flying, because airplanes create too many emissions and do not comply with current environmental policies.
– Since people are already accustomed to moving quickly with the help of low-cost airlines, they need a solution with comparable speed characteristics, and most importantly, price. And there is no better alternative than high-speed trains yet.
– In Europe, there are already several conditionally successful examples of the implementation of such systems, but all of them are of a local nature, solving problems on some of the busiest lines.
– Connecting these systems into a single network will be difficult due to cross-border bureaucracy, high costs and lack of demand.
– During the pandemic, passenger transportation by rail fell significantly, putting the work of a number of areas on the verge of profitability.
– There are doubts that new trains will be in demand simply for the sake of abandoning budget flights.
– On the other hand, the governments of European states have all the necessary leverage to integrate a new approach to movement into the lives of their citizens.
Now, a group of European organizations have committed to a study that will show the benefits of an expanded high-speed rail network, potentially connecting European capitals and major cities.
It also examines the sources of payment for tens of thousands of kilometers of new lines and how a radical transformation of the continent’s rail network could help the EU achieve the Green Deal’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Among these organizations are the European Commission, the Community of European Railways, the European Railway Supply Industry and ALLRAIL, which represents non-state railways.
—
Online:
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.