EU aims to reduce cross-border train travel time by 8 hours

Brussels has unveiled a €345bn plan to significantly reduce train travel times between EU cities, aiming for a high-speed rail network with trains operating at over 200km/h by 2040. Despite a goal to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030, progress has been slow, particularly in central and eastern Europe. The commission plans to propose legislation in 2026 to streamline ticket purchasing across different services. However, critics argue that the plan lacks concrete details and may serve as a mere aspiration rather than an actionable strategy.

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