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From Berlin to Copenhagen in just 4 hours, EC aims for high-speed rail network by 2040

2025-11-08 21:49:53Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
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If all goes according to the European Commission's vision, Europeans could be in Berlin for breakfast and have lunch in Copenhagen, traveling from one capital to another via a superfast train that crosses the continent like a modern arterial line.

According to The Guardian, the European Commission has published plans to build a “truly European” high-speed rail network by 2040, which will significantly reduce travel times between the continent’s major cities. The trains are expected to reach speeds of over 250 km/h, directly competing with short-haul flights within the EU.

If the project is implemented, the journey between Berlin and Copenhagen could take just four hours by 2030, down from seven today. The journey between Sofia and Athens would also be cut to six hours, down from almost 14 currently. Meanwhile, a journey between Tallinn and Riga would take just 1 hour and 45 minutes (compared to over 6 hours now), and the Lisbon–Madrid route would be reduced from nine to three hours.

Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas called this a step towards "a faster and truly European network", stressing that the objective is to make the train the most attractive alternative to planes, especially for short and medium distances.

However, the challenges are great: insufficient infrastructure, incompatible systems, conflicting regulations, and a ticketing system that is today considered "a bureaucratic maze."

Currently, around 12,128 kilometers of high-speed rail lines are located mainly in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, while Central and Eastern Europe remains "poorly connected".

Experts estimate that 546 billion euros will be needed to triple the existing network, including building infrastructure, purchasing new trains and developing common signaling and ticketing technology at a continental level.

One of the Commission's ambitious goals is to create a single platform for cross-border tickets, which would allow passengers to buy a single ticket for trips in several countries, even combining train and plane travel on a single itinerary. Legislative proposals for this are expected to be published in early 2026.

Consumer and industry organisations have welcomed the plan with optimism. Robin Loos of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) described it as “a step forward for sustainable travel”, while the Community of Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) hailed the 250 km/h target as a “new standard competitive with air travel”.

However, not everyone is convinced. Independent expert Jon Worth questioned the realisation of concrete projects, calling the Commission document “more aspirational than a realistic plan”. He pointed out that previous EU projects for rail networks have been “extremely slow” in implementation, asking why things will be different this time.

If Europe manages to fulfill this vision, it would be a transportation revolution, a way to connect the continent faster, reduce pollution and end the era of short-haul flights. But until then, it remains a “promise on rails”.


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