Mobility between European countries could enter a new era with the creation of an extensive high -speed rail network. Recently presented, this international train aims to unite 39 capitals through trains capable of reaching speeds between 300 and 400 km/h, offering a quick, modern and sustainable alternative for long -range travel on the continent.
New proposal
With over 22,000 kilometers planned, the network will connect Lisbon to cities such as Helsinquia, Bucharest or Kiev, through various European strategic corridors.
According to Executive Digest, a new calendar proposal was discussed in Brussels this week, pointing 2035 as a date/target for the first stretches of the network, with priority for the Paris axes to Madrid and Vienna to Berlin.
A network without borders, now with priority in Portugal and Spain
As the same source states, the original plan already provided for the inclusion of Portugal, but sources linked to the European Commission have confirmed that the Lisbon train to Madrid could be one of the first to move forward. The infrastructure between the two capitals, still limited, should be the target of an initial investment of more than 6 billion euros to adapt to high speed.
The proposal is aligned with the objectives of the European Ecological Pact, which provides for the duplication of high -speed rail traffic by 2050. According to the new report published by ’21st Europe’, works in Iberian territory will be able to start by 2027, if the endangered financing is materialized by the interconnection mechanism.
Comfort, connectivity and European design
The Starline project, according to the same source, maintains the concept of trains inspired by the European Union flag, with stars in wagons and interiors designed for comfort in long distances. Each train will feature zones of silence, family compartments, cafeterias and high-speed Wi-Fi.
The stations will also be redesigned. Lisbon, for example, can see Gare do East turned into a rail “hub” with green zones, cultural galleries and digital services, according to what was discussed in the “future of European stations” workshop promoted in Valencia in early June.
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Governance and Sustainability
According to Executive Digest, the proposal includes the creation of a new European rail authority (Era), regardless of the European Union’s railway agency, with reinforced competences for the management and supervision of the Starline network. The operation must be attributed to private companies under public regulation, while financing will be ensured by European funds and national contributions.
The network will use exclusively energy from renewable sources, with solar panels in the structures of stations and direct supply contracts with wind and solar energy producers.
Criticism and obstacles continue
Despite the ambition, the challenges remain. The ‘European Hidden’ platform, as referred to by the previously mentioned source, has alerted to the complexity of the project again, especially in mountainous and submerged areas. The construction plan of a tunnel between Rome and Zagreb continues to raise doubts about its technical viability and estimated cost of 40 billion euros.
The global cost of the project, which already exceeds 800 billion euros, is being debated in the European Parliament. While some Member States defend investment as strategic, others warn of the risk of budgetary skids.
And the low-cost flights?
Although Starline has been pointed out as a threat to low-cost flights, they continue to dominate the market. However, a study published this month by the technical university of Delft reveals that, in corridors with high -speed railway connections, such as Paris to Lyon or Madrid to Barcelona, the train passenger share has exceeded 65%.
In Portugal, according to, the reduction provided for on Lisbon flights to Madrid could reach 70% by 2040, if the high speed corridor advances. However, airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet have reinforced alternative calls and launched campaigns to build passengers, signaling that the competition between air and railway is far from being decided.
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