EU targets faster trains: Sofia–Athens in 6 hours
The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday an ambitious plan to accelerate the expansion of Europe’s high-speed rail network, aiming to make train travel a faster and more sustainable alternative to short-haul flights.
The plan was presented by Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto and European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas. It forms part of the Commission’s broader strategy to promote greener transport through major investments in renewable and low-carbon fuels.
Under the new Action Plan, high-speed lines will connect major European hubs at speeds of 200 km/h and above. Once completed, travel times are expected to drop dramatically — for example, journeys from Berlin to Copenhagen will take four hours instead of seven, and from Sofia to Athens only six hours instead of nearly fourteen.
The initiative will also strengthen cross-border links, including faster routes such as Paris–Lisbon via Madrid, and improved connectivity between the Baltic capitals.
To achieve these goals, the European Commission outlined four key priorities:
Eliminating cross-border bottlenecks with binding completion timetables by 2027 and developing routes exceeding 250 km/h where feasible.
Creating a coordinated funding strategy through a dedicated high-speed rail agreement.
Enhancing conditions for the rail industry and operators.
Strengthening EU-level governance for capacity coordination, standardisation, and licensing.
In parallel, the Commission highlighted the role of renewable and low-carbon fuels in achieving climate targets. Meeting the RefuelEU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime goals will require around 20 million tonnes of sustainable fuels by 2035, backed by an estimated €100 billion in investments.
