Europe’s high-speed rail (HSR) network is one of the most efficient ways to travel across the continent, connecting countries seamlessly and offering a time-saving, climate-smart, and convenient mode of transportation.
Demand for long-distance rail continues to grow, and HSR has the potential to transform European mobility, especially when integrated with regional and local rail systems.
Europe’s expanding high-speed rail network
As of 2025, several European countries, including Spain, Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Austria, and Belgium, are connected by an extensive cross-border HSR network. Spain currently ranks first in Europe with 3,973 kilometers (2,469 miles) of dedicated high-speed rail.
The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), headquartered in Brussels, represents passenger and freight operators as well as national rail infrastructure managers at the EU level. CER envisions rail as a competitive, first-choice mode of transport—one that strengthens economic growth and plays a central role in achieving Europe’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals.
CER’s executive director, Alberto Mazzola, has emphasized that making HSR the backbone of European travel will require more than 49,400 kilometers of new track, with an estimated cost of €546 billion.
This expanded system would enable major reductions in travel time, for example, cutting travel between Athens and Istanbul to under four hours. Countries like France, Germany, and Spain already demonstrate what a mature HSR network can achieve and offer models for the rest of the EU.
CER’s high-speed rail master plan for Europe
On May 5, 2025, CER released its position paper, A High-Speed Rail Master Plan for Europe, outlining a vision to make HSR the backbone of long-distance travel across the continent.
The plan envisions connecting all EU capitals and major cities through a seamless, cross-border rail system that could carry more than half of Europe’s long-distance passengers.
To achieve this, CER recommends:
- Accelerated deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) to harmonize signaling and communication systems across member states.
- Harmonization of national rules, standards, and regulations to remove cross-border barriers.
- Frictionless international ticketing, supported by the CER Ticketing Roadmap and tools like the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM), enabling easier booking across multiple operators.
The position paper also stresses the need to level the playing field so rail can compete fairly with air and road transport. This includes revisiting policies on taxation, infrastructure costs, and subsidies, as well as mobilizing significant funding for high-speed rail in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Toward a more connected and sustainable Europe
CER’s high-speed rail vision is bold, ambitious, and transformative. By strengthening continental connectivity, HSR could reduce Europe’s dependence on air travel, cut emissions, support economic development, and offer a cleaner, more efficient alternative for long-distance trips.
However, the challenges are substantial. Achieving this vision will require long-term political commitment, cross-border cooperation, and massive infrastructure investment, as well as a shared future for European mobility.
Source:
McName, A. (2025, October 8). The ambitious high-speed rail project that will connect all major EU cities. TimeOut. Retrieved from https://www.timeout.com/news/the-ambitious-high-speed-rail-project-that-will-connect-all-major-eu-cities-100825
Position Paper. A High-Speed Rail Master Plan for Europe. (2025, May 5). CER. Retrieved from https://www.cer.be/images/publications/positions/250505_CER_Position_Paper_HSR_Master_Plan.pdf
European High-Speed Rail. CER EU & Sector Initiatives. Retrieved from https://www.cer.be/cer-eu-projects-initiatives/high-speed-rail
A High-Speed Rail Master Plan for Europe. (2025, May 7). CER. Retrieved from https://www.cer.be/cer-positions/a-high-speed-rail-master-plan-for-europe
CER Calls for bold EU action in new High-Speed Rail Master Plan. (2025, May 8). CER. Retrieved from https://www.cer.be/cer-press-releases/cer-calls-for-bold-eu-action-in-new-high-speed-rail-master-plan?
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