EU connections, three quarters of Europeans want high-speed trains

BRUSSELS - The European Commission will present on Wednesday 5 November an action plan to promote the expansion of the high-speed rail network in Europe, today 15,000 kilometres long. Some countries are leading the way, such as France, others, especially in the East, are lagging behind. A survey published by the trade association of railway companies (known by the acronym CER) reveals that half of the respondents are calling for an improvement of the infrastructure.

According to the opinion poll, 49% of the people surveyed believe that transport links 'need to be improved', while 34% claim that they 'could be improved', although they consider them to be 'sufficient' for the time being. Only 1 in 10 respondents believe that the network is 'adequate'. If there were fast and reliable high-speed trains, 77% would choose this method of transport over air travel for short to medium distances.

The Draghi and Letta reports emphasise the importance of international rail links to strengthen economic integration between member countries. There is no shortage of concrete examples. It is well known that Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and London are connected by high-speed trains. The runs are frequent and have promoted economic activity between these capitals. Less well known is the case of the rail link between Copenhagen in Denmark and Malmö in Sweden.

The Øresund Bridge over the Baltic Sea has connected the two cities since 2000. The train travels the distance in 38 minutes. During the day, the frequency is one convoy every 15 minutes. At night, it drops to one every hour. In 2024, the line transported 15 million passengers, setting an all-time record. According to the operating company's latest annual report, commuting between the two cities increased by 12.9 per cent last year compared to 2023.

This writer recently took advantage of the train journey between Copenhagen and Malmö, and can testify to how many passengers were commuters. According to figures from the Øresundsinstitutet, an independent body, the number of Swedes and Danes moving across the strait has risen by 60 per cent in 25 years. Some Swedish companies, such as IKEA and the Ikano bank, have moved offices from Stockholm to Malmö in order to get closer to the heart of Europe and Copenhagen airport.