Flight embarks on journey, aiming to touch down in a century of European urban centers
Rolling Through Europe: A Unified Rail Journey
Setting off from Lisbon on September 2nd, the Connecting Europe Express is on a 5-week mission, spanning 100 cities across 26 countries. With a planned arrival in Paris on October 7th, this 36-day sojourn covers an impressive 20,000 km.
This epic voyage is more than just a journey; it's a moving conference, lab, and debate forum, according to the European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean. She envisions rail as the transport mode of choice for both passengers and businesses, and the Europe Express is a testament to this vision.
The Europe Express is a joint effort between the European Commission and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), along with European rail operators, infrastructure managers, and numerous other partners at EU and local levels. Due to the diverse gauge widths in Europe, the train is divided into three segments: the Iberian train, the Standard train, and the Baltic train, which will meet along the route.
Embracing the Challenges
The Europe Express serves as a reminder of the obstacles that still need to be addressed in Europe's rail network. One of the main challenges is the shift of freight from road to rail, ensuring efficient commuting services, and expanding international long-distance passenger rail transport with day and night services. This project underscores the need for improved interoperability.
The European rail network faces fragmentation due to differing national standards and infrastructure gaps. However, the Europe Express demonstrates the cooperative spirit between railway undertakings and infrastructure managers.
A Step Towards a Carbon-Neutral Future
CER members are committed to making the Green Deal a success, and a strong European railway sector is crucial for reaching the EU's climate targets. Commissioner Valean emphasized that rail is Europe's future and a safe, smart route to combating climate change. By betting on increased and interconnected railway trips, we could power the economic recovery from the pandemic and build a carbon-neutral transport sector.
In essence, the Connecting Europe Express embodies a unified European rail network, fostering investment, innovation, and encouraging the shift to greener transport for passengers and freight, ultimately contributing to the EU's climate and transport strategy goals[3][5]. The train isn't just a mode of transportation—it's a symbol of a greener, more connected Europe.
- To further reduce carbon emissions in the transportation industry, the Europe Express is highlighting the importance of shifting flights to more eco-friendly travel options like trains, contributing to the EU's climate goals.
- As part of the Europe Express, one of the key areas of discussion involves the integration of environmental science in the rail industry, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices to combat climate-change.
- To foster financial growth and encourage environmental responsibility, the Connecting Europe Express is demonstrating how investing in carbon-neutral transportation, such as rail travel, can stimulate the recovery from the pandemic and build a more sustainable future.
- In striving for a carbon-neutral Europe, the Council of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) is concentrating on the role of environmental finance in the railway sector, with the aim of creating a greener transportation network.
- By advocating for the integration of various European rail networks and services, the Europe Express is embracing the principles of a unified and harmonized European transportation system, aspiring to create a cohesive environmental-science approach for the rail industry and combat climate-change together.
