The European think tank 21st Europe, based in Copenhagen, has presented a plan to create a pan-European network of high-speed railways by 2040. This network, according to the developers, will become an analogue of an international metro and will seriously compete with air travel, euro-pulse.ru reports.
According to the 21st Europe project, the new network will reduce travel time by 30% compared to road and existing rail transport. Trains will reach speeds of up to 300–400 kilometers per hour. For example, a trip from Helsinki to Berlin will take only five hours, whereas it currently takes a whole day.
The plan is to connect 39 cities in European countries into a single network, as well as to build routes to the UK and Türkiye. Trains will arrive at new stations located near major cities and integrated with existing urban transport systems.
Despite the fact that high-speed rail travel produces 90% less CO2 emissions than air travel, many Europeans still prefer flying for short journeys.
