The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it will provide support to 10 pilot projects that either establish new rail services or improve existing ones. The aim is to improve cross-border rail connections across the EU, to be faster, more frequent and more affordable.
The railway market must react
– As the demand for green mobility grows, we need the rail market to respond much better and much faster, especially for long and cross-border journeys. That is why the European Commission now wants to help railway companies that create new international train connections – day and night – by breaking down the many barriers for cross-border railways. I look forward to working with the rail sector to make these 10 pilot projects a success and inspire many more to take part, says EU Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean.
Five lines through Denmark and Germany
Five of the projects that can now look forward to a bag of EU money are rail connections that go through Denmark and Germany. It concerns a connection from Germany via Denmark to Sweden. Here, SJ will establish a new night train connection Stockholm – Copenhagen – Berlin.
There will also be a day train from Hamburg to Gothenburg – with the option of extending to Oslo. This must be done in collaboration between DSB and DB.
Swedish luxury night train
The Swedish Snälltaget, a luxury night train connection from Stockholm to Berlin via Copenhagen, is also catered for by the commission. – Berlin).
A completely new route from Prague to Copenhagen via Berlin is also to be established in cooperation between České dráhy, DB and DSB.
Finally, the EU Commission also supports Flixtrain, which will open a new route from Leipzig via Berlin and Copenhagen to Stockholm.
Action plan for long-distance trains
The proposals were submitted by the rail sector and relevant authorities in response to the Commission’s December 2021 action plan to promote long-distance and cross-border passenger trains.
The Action Plan identified obstacles to the deployment and operation of cross-border passenger rail services and made a number of proposals to address them. One of these initiatives is the new pilot projects that will help rail operators and authorities break down barriers in practice.
The Commission will now invite those behind the 10 selected proposals to launch their projects.
