EIM highly welcomes the EU Action Plan to boost long distance and cross-border passenger rail. The EC Action Plan paves the way to make passengers travel by train in a carbon-neutral manner which is essential to achieve the climate objectives set in the EU Green Deal.

EIM supports the Commission’s focus on completing the implementation of the Fourth Railway Package and removing barriers that hinder the full deployment of long-distance and cross-border passenger rail services. This will help to reach the objectives of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and tripling it by 2050.

EIM and its Members, the rail infrastructure managers (IMs) will continue to support the deployment of ERTMS and close existing gaps, notably in cross-border sections, nodes and terminal connections. IMs are committed to work together with the EU Commission to improve traffic management processes and capacity allocation, for example through the TTR programme. IMs will cooperate with all necessary stakeholders to realise the pilot services that are mentioned in today’s action plan.

Last but not least, as 2022 will be the European Year of Youth, IMs are supportive of the Commission’s proposal to amend the current Erasmus reimbursement rules to promote the use of rail travel to Erasmus exchange locations.

EIM Executive Directive Monika Heiming noted: “ With the adoption of the action plan, the European Commission shows its clear commitment to reach rail’s full potential and create a modern, resilient and digitalised European rail passenger cross-border rail market. EIM will cooperate with its Members, European institutions and other sector stakeholders to support the action plan and realise the railway network of the future.”