Implementing the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), based on the interconnection and interoperability of national transport networks, including rail, is of great importance to the EU’s economic competitiveness and its balanced and sustainable development. As part of the TEN-T, a number of European Coordinators are tasked among other things with facilitating the implementation of certain multi-country rail projects that are seen as a high priority for the network.
In particular since its revision in 2024, the TEN-T also aims to reduce the environmental and climate impact of transport and to increase the safety and the resilience of the network.
Among other, the requirements for rail concern:
- Rail travel speed: By 2040, passenger railway lines on the core and extended core network must support trains traveling at speeds of 160 km/h or faster.
- European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS): The single European signalling system will be deployed across the entire TEN-T network, enhancing rail safety and efficiency. National systems will be phased out.
- Airport connectivity: Major airports with over 12 million passengers annually must be connected by long-distance rail, making rail a competitive alternative to domestic feeder flights.
- Freight terminals: The number and capacity of transhipment terminals will be expanded to meet traffic demands. This includes accommodating 740-meter long trains, promoting the shift to sustainable transport modes, and boosting Europe's combined transport sector.