Following the launch of the European Commissions’ Master Plan for High-Speed Rail in November, EPF issued its position on how to improve high-speed rail. EPF welcomes the European Commission’s ambitious plans and reaffirms the need for more trains, for unlocking the full potential of rail infrastructure investments, and for making rail travel not only faster, but also more affordable and price-competitive. 

On 5 November 2025, the European Commission launched “Connecting Europe through High-Speed Rail”, a roadmap to accelerate the development of a faster, better-functioning European high-speed rail network by 2040. Building on the 2020 Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and the 2021 Action plan to boost long distance and cross-border passenger rail – which the Commission acknowledges has so far failed to deliver –, it proposes measures on infrastructure investment, standardisation of digital (safety) systems and rolling stock, regulatory harmonisation and improved ticketing and passenger rights. Anchored in the TEN-T framework, it seeks to cut journey times, strengthen cross-border links and make rail competitive with short-haul flights while also reducing congestion, freeing capacity on conventional lines, and supporting regional economic development.

In its newly adopted position paper (January 2026, available here), EPF welcomes the European Commission’s ambitious plans and reaffirms the need for more trains, for unlocking the full potential of rail infrastructure investments, and for making rail travel not only faster, but also more affordable and price-competitive. EPF urges the EU to prioritize passenger-driven, cost-effective measures to provide the largest number of travellers in the short to medium term with practical alternatives to planes and cars, enabling a rapid shift toward sustainable mobility. To unlock the full potential of rail infrastructure investment, frequent services must be offered to make optimal use of the network, while concrete proposals are needed to address longstanding issues such as ticketing and passenger protection. Additional action is also required to coordinate timetables and internalize external costs, ensuring that rail travel becomes not only faster but also more accessible, reliable, and affordable. Public transport and rail must finally be treated as a budgetary priority, with revenues from levies on more polluting transport modes earmarked to invest in sustainable mobility.

➡️ Read EPF’s position paper here