EU High-Speed Rail Plan: TEN-T Network & Innovation Boost for 2030+

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Introduction

The European Commission has launched a strategy to accelerate high-speed rail development across the EU, aiming to cut journey times, improve cross-border travel, and support a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050. This plan builds on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) and includes specific goals, such as reducing travel time from Berlin to Copenhagen to four hours by 2030.

Accelerating Investment and Harmonising the European Network

The Commission’s plan includes measures to address cross-border bottlenecks, with binding timelines to be set by 2027, and to identify opportunities for higher speeds above 250 km/h where economically viable. A dedicated EU financing strategy will be prepared in the coming months, involving dialogue with Member States, industry, and financial actors. This aims to coordinate funding sources, attract private investment, and ensure the completion of the TEN-T network by 2040. The strategic dialogue will culminate in a High-Speed Rail Deal, a multilateral commitment to mobilize investment for priority projects.

Creating an Attractive and Competitive Framework for Rail Services

The plan includes legislative support for the second-hand market for rolling stock. In 2027, the Commission will propose measures to prevent the anticompetitive scrapping of functioning trains and establish transparent resale conditions across all Member States. A 2026 proposal will improve cross-border ticketing and booking systems, facilitating seamless journeys and better access to passenger rights. The plan also aims to remove entry barriers for new operators, ensuring fair track access charges and non-discriminatory access to facilities to boost competition and affordability.

Supporting a Strong, Innovative, and Harmonised European Rail Sector

A 2026 Europe’s Rail research call will fund next-generation high-speed rolling stock and support technical innovation to enable seamless operations across borders. EU rules will be revised in 2026 to simplify train driver certification. The 2026 European ERTMS Deployment Plan will ensure harmonized interoperability across the network.

Strengthening EU-Level Governance

Infrastructure managers will be empowered and legally required to cooperate, providing predictable cross-border capacity for long-distance services. Barriers to new services between key cities will be discussed in roundtables with stakeholders, overseen by European TEN-T Coordinators. A scoreboard will monitor progress, while the mandate of the European Union Agency for Railways will be revised in 2026 to remove redundant national rules and issue authorizations efficiently, supporting innovation.

Conclusion

The European Commission’s plan aims to enhance high-speed rail, ease congestion, and improve regional and night train services, strengthening Europe’s security. The EU has supported 804 rail infrastructure projects with a total of €34.4 billion through the Connecting Europe Facility, accounting for 68.76% of total CEF investment. The plan was developed after an Implementation Dialogue with various stakeholders to gather feedback.