The European Parliament endorsed its recommendations for accelerating the development of the EU’s high-speed rail connectivity and improving territorial cohesion. MEPs accepted a report that calls for a genuine European high-speed rail network that is interoperable, innovative, accessible and intermodal, delivering genuine value for citizens and public investment alike.
MEPs want high-speed rail to connect not only EU capitals, but also major urban nodes across all European regions and key neighbouring countries, either through direct high-speed rail services or effective connections to the high-speed rail network. This would contribute to reducing territorial disparities and strengthening the connectivity of peripheral and less-developed regions, according to MEPs.
Their report advocates for the completion of the trans-European network for transport (TEN-T) and the identification of missing links, and abandoned or underserved sections or cross-border connections with high added value.
Affordable and transparent rail tickets
Accessible and affordable rail services are essential to reducing transport poverty and ensuring equal mobility across the EU, MEPs say. They encourage countries and railway operators to make high-speed train tickets more affordable, including through accessible fares and appropriate reduced-fare or subscription schemes. The report also calls for greater transparency in ticket pricing and welcomes the ongoing legislative work on the Commission’s recently proposed “passenger package”, which is expected to deliver interoperable, visible, accessible and easily comparable rail ticket offers.
