The European Year of Rail has recently started. Although we can only travel to a limited extent due to the corona crisis, this year the European Union is drawing attention to the importance of good European train connections. The aim is to ensure that more people and goods travel by train throughout Europe after the pandemic in order to contribute to achieving the climate goals.

State Secretary Stientje van Veldhoven (Infrastructure and Water Management): “Traveling by train is sustainable and comfortable. It is important that we work together in Europe to make international train travel easier for travelers. For any destination up to 700 kilometers, the train should be an affordable and green alternative. Over the past four years, we have taken important steps towards this: there will be a direct train to London, the night train to Vienna is in the starting blocks and the intercity to Berlin will take half an hour less from 2024, but it is important that there are still more improvements are being made ”.

Easier to buy a ticket

Twenty-five EU Member States, together with Norway and Switzerland, are united in the Platform on International Rail Passenger Transport and, at the start of the European Year of Rail, make a number of recommendations to promote international rail travel. These recommendations are presented today by State Secretary Stientje van Veldhoven (Infrastructure and Water Management) during the European digital kick-off of the Year of Rail.

This should make it easier to book an international train journey online. It is also important that Member States' timetables are better aligned and that there is enough space on the track for international train connections. The German initiative Trans Europa Express 2.0, an international rail network that aims to connect European cities with a combination of high-speed trains and night trains, could play an important role in this. For the Netherlands, this initiative is looking at better connections with Berlin, Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, ​​London and Copenhagen.

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In addition, Member States are enthusiastic about the European Commission's proposal to launch 15 pilots for new and innovative train services. The intention is that these will be realized before 2030. Finally, the Member States recommend more intensive cooperation in the conclusion of contracts for international train connections.

Ambassador

To underline the importance of the European Year of Railways, State Secretary Van Veldhoven has appointed former MEP Wim van de Camp as ambassador. He will represent the Netherlands at various meetings.

Wim van de Camp (ambassador for the European Year of Rail): “There are great opportunities for European rail. Only 7% of travelers and 11% of goods in Europe are now transported by rail, while it is one of the most sustainable modes of transport. I will be strongly committed to this on behalf of the Netherlands this year. ”

Due to the corona crisis, many of the meetings will be held digitally. At the end of the European Year of Rail, the Netherlands wants to organize a rail summit with Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg on international passenger transport. The national government reports this on them website.

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