European Rail Renaissance

Background

In the transport sector far-reaching changes are necessary to meet the EU climate targets. Rail transport plays a major role in mobility transition as it can replace a vast number of flights in a more environmentally friendly manner, especially in Europe. However, in the past decades many long-distance train services including night trains were discontinued. As major railway connections between EU member states are rare, travelling by train is generally not a suitable alternative to long-distance passenger transport. Against this background, clear political guidelines and concrete policy initiatives are needed to foster European rail transport. 

In 2020/21 there were special political opportunities to foster rail transport in a sustainable manner: the European Commission presented its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy which is going to shape EU transport policy for the next decade. In September 2020 the EU Rail Summit took place at which the transport ministers of the EU Member States and representatives of railway companies discussed sustainable European rail transport. 2021 was designated as the European Year of Rail, in the course of which the EU specifically promoted railways as a mode of transport and specifically fostered their use by citizens. 

Project

The project has published an EU Policy Paper on the European Year of Rail. It outlines the main challenges posed by cross-border railway passenger transport and contains policy recommendations for EU policy makers. Further, four national policy papers have been created to address policy makers. The national policy papers illustrated cross-border railway passenger transport in Poland, France, Germany and Spain and included policy recommendations. 

To participate in public consultations on the EU Sustainable Mobility Strategy, the project prepared a guide with optional answers as well as a position paper to be disseminated via various networks. The wider public was thus informed about progressive stances on railway transport, and the participation of civil society was promoted. Furthermore, at two internal workshops, Germanwatch and its partner organisations have developed a strategy to ensure the involvement of civil society in the longer term. 

Policy makers, railway companies and representatives of civil society were addressed at three national workshops in Poland, Germany and Spain. The aim was to garner support for better cross-border rail transport and to encourage progressive stakeholders to act. An EU policy workshop was held with the aim of building alliances among the key actors to improve cross-border railway transport. 

Results

• Price de- instead of increase: In Poland, thanks to NGOs (including the Civil Affairs Institute) and rail operators, an increase in charges for access to railway infrastructure has been blocked and instead shifted to a reduction by 50%. The Civil Affairs Institute, on its own behalf and on behalf of the entire Europe on Rail coalition, issued a number of comments on the increase proposal, providing a comparative analysis of rates in other countries with an emphasis on the region of Central and Eastern Europe – it coordinated a shared position with other CSOs and the government reduced instead of increased track access charges, making rail more attractive to citizens. 

• Funding for rail increased: the Civil Affairs Institute prepared comments on the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment (FENiKS) programme in which it demonstrated the need to increase funding for rail, to link transport to climate goals and to shift investment away from road infrastructure. The statement was reinforced by press releases, which hit not only the trade media, but also the mainstream media. The comment was issued in June 2021, in February 2022 the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy “increased the funds for (…) the Clean Air Programme, for rail transport and biodiversity.”

• Connecting Europe: 32 campaigners from 14 countries across Europe spanning from Romania to Ireland, from Denmark to Spain learned together in a hands-on EU NGO workshop, why it can be so complicated to connect 28 countries with dozens of train systems. And why it still is worth the effort and how they can contribute. 

Last update: August 2024