The European Union's high-speed rail network has expanded by nearly double in the last decade, based on the most recent official statistics.
High-speed rail lines capable of carrying trains at speeds of 250 km/h or more covered 8,556 kilometers across the continent in 2023, an increase from 5,812 kilometers in 2013, according to Eurostat data.
However, the bloc's total railway network contracted by 1.3 percent over that period, shrinking to 200,947 km in 2023. "Europe is not upgrading its railways rapidly enough," cautions Carlos Rico, rail policy officer at the campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E).
The most recent statistics show a picture of uneven development.
Which European country has the highest railway line density?
Czechia boasts the most densely populated railway network in Europe, with 123.2 meters of railway lines per square kilometer.
The plan prioritized rail transport over roads.
(104.8 m/km²).
According to Eurostat analysts, countries with the most extensive railway networks are situated in the central part of northern Europe, indicating both their high population density and significant freight transport volumes.
On the other end of the spectrum, the lowest railway network densities were found in Greece (14.0 m/km²), and Finland (19.4 m/km²) - which has the EU's lowest population density.
Sweden (26.8 million/km²), Estonia (27.2 million/km²), Portugal (27.8 million/km²), Latvia (28.9 million/km²) and Ireland (29.8 million/km²) comprise the bottom of the list.
What is the significance of a dense railway network?
High railway density typically means easier access to railways, as explained by Rico. Nevertheless, having a station nearby doesn't automatically ensure a hassle-free journey.
For a railway system to be successful, it must be both affordable and reliable," he stresses. "If the network is extensive but frequencies are low, prices are too high and delays are frequent, it will not be able to capture a substantial demand.
“Without those passengers, it will be more difficult to sustain the system financially.”
At the end of last year.
Which European country has the most high-speed rail tracks?
Within the European Union, high-speed rail lines frequently cross national borders, making travel throughout the region smooth and uninterrupted. This network has undergone substantial growth, as reported by Eurostat, increasing by 47 percent between 2013 and 2023.
It is currently leading the way with 3,190 kilometers of high-speed lines, a 66 percent increase from 2013.
This reflects its status as the largest recipient of EU funds for high-speed rail between 2000 and 2017, receiving nearly half of the available funding throughout the entire bloc.
According to T&E's Rico, it's also the outcome of extremely low construction costs compared to other nations.
However, economies of scale have also made a significant contribution. The lowest costs per kilometer were achieved when the country had the most projects in development simultaneously.
France has nearly 2,748 kilometers of high-speed rail lines, a 35 percent increase from 2013, ranking second. Germany and Italy follow with 1,163 kilometers and 1,097 kilometers, respectively.
How can the European Union's rail targets stay on schedule?
To put it bluntly, Europe's railway network has a considerable distance to travel to meet the continent's energy and climate objectives.
The project is unlikely to meet its deadlines.
Transportation and Environment (T&E) is calling on countries to allocate sufficient national funds for these projects. The European Commission, it recommends, should prioritize financing investments that enhance transnational connectivity.
Railways account for less than 0.4 percent of transportation emissions within the European Union, yet they carry about 7 percent of the region's passengers.
“High-speed lines are only one part of the solution, but they're not the sole answer,” says Rico. “Rail will play a role in reducing carbon emissions from transportation, in conjunction with road electrification and the use of clean fuels for air and sea travel.”
To unlock the "climate potential of rail", he suggests, we need increased competition, simplified cross-border ticketing, and a unified signalling system in Europe (the ETCS). This latter component will enable improved connectivity and services without the need for new infrastructure.