Europe positions itself as a cornerstone when it comes to sustainable advancements in technology. This also concerns means of transportation. However, investments continuously seem to flow more toward roads rather than rails. Its railway system has long been an underexplored resource, not only when it comes to a greener future, but also advancing policy to foster further integration. Despite the European Union’s (EU) strong rhetoric around sustainability and cross-border mobility, investment flows continue to favour roads over rails. This paradox lies at the heart of Europe’s difficulty in creating a cohesive railway area that can assert itself vis-à-vis other major modes of transportation.
The idea of a unified European railway system is far from new. Rooted in decades of policy debate, it seeks to establish interoperability, efficiency, and sustainability as guiding principles of European mobility. However, the European Green Deal, together with ambitions for European carbon neutrality by 2050, leaves the question of why it remains so difficult to establish a unified, standardised train system.
Symbolic initiatives such as Connecting Europe Express have aimed to raise awareness of rail’s environmental and economic benefits. Originally launched in 2021 as part of the European Year of Rail, it ran from September 2024 to October 2025, culminating in Paris. This project highlighted both the potential and the limitations of current infrastructure. The logic behind a unified railway is compelling. Beyond environmental goals, a connected system would strengthen integration, reduce transport bottlenecks, and stimulate collaboration between member states. It would further push for European integration, bringing people and goods closer together whilst simultaneously contributing to European climate goals.
Modern efforts toward interoperability date back to the late 1980s, when the EU began addressing discrepancies in signalling and control systems. These later developed into the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, which prevents trains from exceeding pre-set speed limits. ATP functioned as a precursor of what later became the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), which ensures interoperability. ERTMS differs from the traditional ATP model in terms of cross-border compatibility and can support both the traditional trackside signalling and the more innovative cab signalling. By integrating real-time speed and signal data, it has led to major improvements in safety and reliability across borders.
The 1990s marked the beginning of further market liberalisation, aimed at creating independent regulatory bodies. In 2010, the Third Railway Package advanced this agenda by expanding passenger rights and clarifying the responsibilities of operators. Still, the implementation remains uneven in part due to technological barriers. Track gauge differences, inconsistent electrification systems, and divergent signalling standards remain persistent obstacles. While airplanes and trucks operate seamlessly across borders, data exchange between train operators remains a hindrance to smooth train operations.
Additionally, infrastructure capacity remains limited. Congestion on key corridors, particularly those linking Northern and Southern European countries, impedes efficiency. Despite ambitious sustainability targets such as doubling high-speed rail traffic by 2030, the cost falls primarily on national governments. Constructing a single kilometre of high-speed track can cost up to €40 million, often deterring investment in less affluent member states.
Europe’s rail sector does not operate in a vacuum. Trucks, airlines, and maritime transport represent strong competitors and are often advantaged by looser regulation and lower operational costs. Airlines, particularly low-cost carriers like Ryanair or Wizz, have dominated cross-border short-distance markets where trains should logically thrive. Structural inequalities further reinforce the imbalance. Because of the Chicago Convention of 1944, most international flights remain exempt from fuel taxes, while trains pay taxes on electricity and diesel consumption, ultimately reducing competitiveness in price.
Despite these challenges, recent years have seen substantial European engagement in rail infrastructure. The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has allocated around €2.8 billion to 94 transport projects in 2025, emphasising cross-border connectivity, with 77% of the funds allocated to railways. These include high-priority corridors under the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Among the most ambitious projects stands the Brenner Base Tunnel, which is soon to become the world’s longest underground rail tunnel. Running beneath the Alps between Austria and Italy, it is expected to reduce travel times between Milan, Innsbruck, and Paris by over two and a half hours. Moreover, it promises to significantly cut heavy truck traffic across the Brenner Pass, contributing to reduced congestion.
Furthermore, the administrative side of implementing a unified train system is not to be underestimated. Trains have always been deeply tied to national identity and sovereignty. This legacy complicates harmonisation. Multiple ATP systems coexist, requiring trains to be equipped with several technologies merely to cross borders. Another important point is ticketing. Incompatible systems cause passengers to only be partially refunded in case of cancellation, as operations are only responsible for their portion of the trip.
National safety authorities and regulatory frameworks further complicate EU-level coordination. Diverse approaches to digitalisation and ticketing systems delay implementation of long-term strategies. The political dimension also extends into questions of security. In an era of increasing military spending railway networks retain strategic importance, serving as potential logistical channels for troop movements or supply transport in crises.
While these initiatives are essential for infrastructure improvement, truly shaping the transition towards true interoperability requires a much more cohesive approach that includes a long-term European vision. Achieving a coherent European railway era will require a blend of political determination, technological synchronisation, and equitable financing. The railway sector is closely tied to Research and Development, so investments would generate long-term benefits that could exceed train infrastructure. Moreover, inducing better rail performance would play a significant role in reducing public expenditure. European train systems have far greater implications than just improving passenger experience. They can serve as an active geopolitical tool. Through reducing transport bottlenecks, European integration is fostered and collaboration is strengthened.
A harmonised rail system embodies the principle of integration at the heart of the European project: connecting people, economies, and cultures through sustainable innovation.
Written by Astrid Steinoecker, Edited by Hannah Shaffer
Photo Credit: wirestock (Uploaded 25 November, 2021) on Freepik
