European Rail Renaissance

Favouring rail travel over air travel is a powerful means to reduce transport emissions. Yet, rail travel so far accounts for only eight per cent of passenger transport in the EU. The challenges are manifold: many cross-border links are non-operational, rolling stock lacks interoperable (night) trains, financial policies favour climate-damaging aviation, and passengers face complicated and expensive ticket purchase. To tap the climate action potential of increased rail services, the EU needs to improve its railway infrastructure, create pan-European connections, and make rail travel affordable and convenient.

Zug im Schnee in den Bergen; Foto: Johannes Hoffmann, Unsplash

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.

• Positive impact on mobility policy: The project steered the political debate towards rail transport as a climate-friendly mobility solution. It supported the implementation of the European Union's Rail Action Plan and connected decision-makers. It thus contributed to important EU initiatives such as the Multimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS) Directive for rail tickets. It also supported non-CO₂ monitoring, which is intended to increase airfares and thus make competition between modes of transport fairer. This creates a solid basis for shifting traffic from greenhouse gas-intensive aviation and road transport to energy-efficient rail, which directly reduces emissions.
• Lower costs, more attractive rail: The project achieved noticeable improvements for rail passengers in Poland. Action by NGOs, including the Civil Affairs Institute, and rail operators prevented the planned increase in infrastructure charges for passengers. Instead, a 50 per cent reduction in track access charges was introduced, which will benefit passengers through lower ticket prices. The Civil Affairs Institute coordinated a joint position with other civil society actors and the government. It underpinned this with well-researched tariff comparisons in Central and Eastern Europe. 
• More funding for climate-friendly rail infrastructure: The project advocated for increased funding for rail transport at the European level. In a statement on the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment (FENiKS), it emphasised the need for additional funds to redirect investment from road to rail transport, thereby supporting the achievement of European climate targets. Press releases on this topic, which were picked up by media outlets with a wide reach, increased public awareness. Shortly after these publications appeared, the Polish Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy increased the financial resources available for clean air, rail transport and biodiversity  programmes.