CER Launches High-Speed Rail Master Plan for EU Capitals

BRUSSELS – Representatives from the Community of European Railways and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and Poland’s PKP SA met with the European Commission on 26 February 2026, to advocate for placing rail at the centre of the forthcoming EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. The proposal includes a high-speed master plan to connect all major European capitals. Rail leaders argued that with 75% of tourism-related emissions linked to transport choices, sustainable mobility is the foundation of sustainable tourism.

What Does This Regulation Cover?

The rail sector’s proposals for the EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism focus on three core pillars: infrastructure investment, digital integration, and fair market competition. The central infrastructure proposal is a coordinated high-speed rail master plan to connect major European capitals, aimed at shifting passenger traffic from aviation. The digital component calls for a passenger-focused, interoperable ticketing system to enable seamless cross-border booking, while ensuring revenue remains with operators. For market competition, the proposals target a level playing field with aviation through reforms, including electricity taxation, to make rail more cost-competitive.

Key Regulatory Data

How Does This Compare to Global Standards?

The call to level the competitive field between rail and aviation reflects a specific European policy context, particularly the ‘polluter pays’ principle. The rail sector’s advocacy aligns directly with the upcoming revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) scheduled for July 2026. This legislative update is viewed by transport stakeholders as a critical opportunity to expand the ETS’s scope to cover all departing flights, which would more accurately price aviation’s environmental impact and potentially generate revenues for reinvestment in sustainable transport. While other regions have carbon pricing mechanisms, the EU’s comprehensive, cross-sectoral ETS framework provides a unique and imminent legislative pathway for the changes rail operators are demanding.

Editor’s Analysis

The rail industry’s proposals are strategically timed to capitalize on shifting consumer preferences. This is not merely a supply-side push for investment but also aligns with a documented increase in demand for slower, more experiential travel. A study from the European Travel Commission confirms that travelers are increasingly opting for trains for multi-destination European trips, driven by the appeal of the journey itself rather than solely by climate concerns (Source: European Travel Commission, 2026). This convergence of policy advocacy and organic market demand strengthens the case for prioritizing rail infrastructure as a central pillar of Europe’s long-term tourism and economic strategy.

FAQ

Q: What is the main goal of the proposed high-speed rail master plan?
A: The primary goal is to connect all major European capitals with high-speed rail, creating a viable and attractive alternative to short-haul flights. This directly targets the significant CO2 emissions from tourism-related travel, which account for 97% of emissions associated with a hotel stay.

Q: What specific policy change is being proposed to compete with aviation?
A: Rail leaders are advocating for reforms to electricity taxation for railways and a stricter application of the ‘polluter pays’ principle to aviation. They see the planned revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) in July 2026 as a key legislative opportunity to achieve this.

Q: Is there evidence that tourists actually want to travel more by train?
A: Yes, a study by the European Travel Commission found a growing trend among long-haul travelers to use lower-emission transport like trains for their trips across Europe. This shift is reportedly driven more by the appeal of “slow travel” experiences than by climate concerns alone.