Dozens of railway routes launched in recent years have made the journey across the borders of European countries easier.
But a newly announced proposal from the Copenhagen think tank has a more ambitious plan for train connections on the continent.
The 21st European Blueprint envisions a European high-speed rail network that works like a subway or a pipe system.
Named Starline, it hopes to reshape the “dispersed, unbalanced, often slow” railway infrastructure on the African continent and introduce Super fast connection Competing for air travel.
“A truly integrated railway system is no longer a matter of convenience; it is a strategic necessity for European resilience in the 21st century,” the think tank pointed out.
“Designed like a subway system [Starline] Changed how Europeans view their continents – not as a collection of distant capitals, but a single fast mobile network in which every connection (whether to people or goods) is easily accessible. ”
21 Europe wants to see the networks up and running this century – but how realistic is their vision?
Establish a European subway system
It is undeniable that the European-wide railway system will be extremely popular among travelers.
“From the Golden Age Night train “For today’s 400,000+ connected users, the desire for open, accessible travel is clear. However, despite public demand, cross-border travel remains dispersed, slow and expensive.”
The European Union Initiative aims to unify infrastructure across the continent.
The new system is estimated to be 30% faster than roads and current railway travel, with trains operating at 300-400 km/h. -21 Europe
But Europe 21 said it lacks not only “ambition and design” but not only “complex places for passengers to experience” Ticketinginconsistent services and outdated radio stations make the railway feel fragmented, but “missed opportunities make the railway a decisive feature of Europe itself”.
The group sees a unity design As the key to cross-border networks.
It said of the current system: “The station feels disconnected, the training varies greatly in design, and the journey itself is rarely seen as part of the experience.”
“Other forms of transport from Japanese bullet trains to Scandinavian airports show that mobility can be both practical and iconic.”
Starline trains can connect Helsinki to Berlin in 5 hours
The 21st European 22,000-km interstellar network is designed to connect 39 destinations in European countries – the lines also reach the UK, Türkiye and Ukraine.
New system is estimated to be 30% faster than roads and currents Railway Travel The train runs at a speed of 300-400 km/h.
This means passengers can travel from Helsinki to Berlin in just over five hours, rather than the whole day travel Currently required.
The carriage is not separated by the classroom, but rather spaces according to different needs (such as quiet workspaces and family-friendly areas). -21 Europe
“Historically, Berlin’s Kiev Berlin became a predictable, seamless connection,” the think tank said. “Today, Milan to Munich, a slow and winding route that turned into a high-frequency connection between major economic centers.”
The Starline train will have a dark blue paint that is easy to identify. The carriage is not separated by the classroom, but rather spaces according to different needs (such as quiet workspaces and family-friendly areas).
The train will arrive in new station Connections to existing urban transportation systems are integrated into the construction outside major cities.
21 Europe envisions these stations as cultural hubs that will have Restaurantshopping and well-designed waiting areas as well as concert halls, museums, stadiums and event spaces.
Best opportunity for Europe to achieve its 2050 net zero goal’
Europe also regards Starline as an environmental project.
Transportation is one of Europe’s biggest climate challenges. According to the European Environment Agency, the industry contributed 29% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2022.
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although High-speed rail A maximum reduction of CO2 per trip is 90%.
The think tank said countries such as France and Austria have begun to restrict short-haul flights for railway alternatives, but the real impact “requires a continental approach.”
“The bold shift to high-speed rail may be the best opportunity for Europe to achieve its 2050 net zero goal, while ensuring mobility remains fast and green.”
Publicly funded franchise model
So, how will star lines become a reality? 21 Europe proposes “central coordination of trains, passenger experience and technology while allowing the country Railway operator Run the route under the franchise model. ”
The think tank said it will be publicly funded and operated by approved national railway companies, while being supervised by the new European Railway Authority (ERA), an agency within the EU framework responsible for ensuring the coordination, interoperability and long-term expansion of the system.
The team sees unified design as key to cross-border networks. -21 Europe
act as European system21st Europe said that StarWire will require unified labor agreements, technical standards and safety regulations.
“This means train operators, maintenance staff and station staff will be trained under a shared European framework to ensure operational consistency, no matter where they work.”
It’s an ambitious proposal, but think tanks believe it can become a reality by the end of the century.
“Now, we’re starting to build networks to drive real change, bringing policy makers, designers and industry leaders together to turn vision into action,” it said.
Correction: Previous versions of this article incorrectly stated that the purpose of Europe 21 is to run the network by 2040.
