Brussels,

The EU’s Bet on Unity Through Infrastructure

As the EU rewrites its transport map, the revised TEN-T network promises speed, sustainability, and sovereignty—but only if member states move in unison. With which instruments? Achieving this will require coordinated investment strategies, binding deadlines, and a stronger role for the European Commission in monitoring progress.

The European Union’s bold overhaul of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) represents more than an infrastructure update—it’s a political statement about the future of European integration. With plans to connect high-speed rail, green urban mobility, and resilient freight corridors by 2040, the TEN-T vision is tightly linked to the EU’s climate ambitions and geopolitical strategy. Yet national divergences, uneven investment capacity, and a patchwork of technical standards threaten to derail the momentum. At stake is the EU’s credibility in delivering not just greener mobility, but a truly unified Europe—on tracks as well as on treaties.

By Mark Strass

Brussels,  17 April 2025 - 4 MINUTES READ

Brussels, April 18, 2025 — The European Union is transforming the internal rules to modernize its transportation infrastructure. Last year, it revised the Regulation on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The aim is to enhance connectivity, sustainability, and resilience across the continent.​

The revised TEN-T Regulation, adopted in April 2024, sets forth a strategic blueprint to integrate various modes of transport—railways, roads, inland waterways, and maritime routes—into a cohesive network. By 2040, the core and extended core networks are expected to support high-speed rail services, with passenger trains operating at speeds of at least 160 km/h. Additionally, the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) across the entire network will standardize signaling systems, enhancing safety and efficiency.

As the European Union enters a critical phase of implementing its revised Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), political questions loom large over the bloc’s ability to turn grand ambitions into concrete infrastructure.

Political Will vs. National Interests. The success of TEN-T hinges on one crucial factor: coordination among 27 member states with vastly different priorities, budgets, and existing infrastructure standards. While Brussels pushes for rail interoperability, electrification, and uniform high-speed service, national governments continue to favor internal investment agendas, especially in countries where roads remain politically more popular than rail.

Germany and France, key players in shaping European transport, support high-speed expansion but diverge on freight logistics. Eastern countries like Poland and Romania welcome EU funding, yet struggle with execution due to bureaucracy and capacity limits.

The persistent fragmentation of national rail systems threatens to undermine the TEN-T vision unless political alignment is deepened. Towards an Efficient, Borderless RailTo achieve a functional, EU-wide rail system, political momentum must translate into:

• Full adoption of ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) across all corridors
• Elimination of bottlenecks at borders and terminals
• Real investments in cross-border high-speed links, especially in Central and Eastern Europe
• A “Single European Railway Area”, where trains, services, and certifications are fully interoperable

With over €600 billion needed by 2040, EU institutions are expected to leverage the Connecting Europe Facility, the Green Deal budget, and possibly new Eurobonds to close the funding gap. However, delays in national permitting and procurement procedures may stall progress unless the EU enforces tighter implementation deadlines.

The Role of Geopolitics. The inclusion of Ukraine and Moldova in the extended TEN-T corridors signals a strategic use of infrastructure for geopolitical alignment. At the same time, the formal exclusion of Russia and Belarus from the network underlines how transport has become a tool of diplomacy and deterrence.

If the EU can overcome national resistance and secure coordinated investments, the TEN-T revision could spark the most ambitious rail transformation since the post-war era. Otherwise, the risk is another decade of disconnected upgrades, where trains stop at borders—not just for technical reasons, but political ones.

In short, Europe’s rail future depends as much on unity as on steel and track.



Urban Mobility and Environmental Goals

A significant aspect of the TEN-T revision focuses on urban areas. All 431 urban nodes along the network are mandated to develop Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) by 2027. These plans aim to promote zero and low-emission mobility, reduce congestion, and improve air quality . Furthermore, the network's expansion includes enhanced maritime connections, integrating short-sea shipping routes and upgrading ports to bolster the EU's maritime dimension

Strengthening Resilience Amid Climate Challenges

In response to increasing climate-related disruptions, the TEN-T initiative emphasizes the need for a resilient transport infrastructure. A recent study highlights the vulnerability of transport modes to extreme weather events, underscoring the urgency for climate adaptation measures. The EU plans to conduct climate risk assessments and invest in infrastructure upgrades to mitigate these risks .​

Geopolitical Considerations and Expansion

The TEN-T network's expansion reflects the EU's geopolitical strategy, extending corridors to Ukraine and Moldova while excluding Russia and Belarus. This move aligns with the EU's commitment to support neighboring countries and enhance regional connectivity .​

Conclusion

The comprehensive overhaul of the TEN-T underscores the EU's dedication to fostering an integrated, sustainable, and resilient transport network. As implementation progresses, the success of this initiative will hinge on coordinated efforts among member states, substantial investments, and a steadfast commitment to the EU's Green Deal objectives.​

For a detailed overview of the TEN-T initiative, visit eEuropa's dedicated page.

© Copyright eEuropa Belgium 2020-2025
Sources: © European Union, 1995-2025, USA.gov, Gov.cn

Rail Infrastructure in the EU (as of 2023)

• Total Railway Network: Approximately 200,947 km, marking a 1.3% decrease from 2013
• High-Speed Rail Lines: The EU boasts 8,556 km of dedicated high-speed railway lines, with Spain and France accounting for nearly 75% of this network
• Electrification: About 57.4% of the EU's railway lines are electrified. Luxembourg leads with 96.7% electrification, followed by Belgium (88.0%) and Sweden (75.1%)
  
• Railway Density: Czechia has the densest network at 123.2 meters of railway per square kilometer, followed by Belgium (119.2 m/km²) and Germany (109.5 m/km²)
  
• European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS): Efforts are underway to implement ERTMS across the TEN-T network to enhance interoperability and safety

Road Infrastructure in the EU (as of 2023)

• TEN-T Road Network:  The comprehensive TEN-T road network encompasses a vast array of motorways and high-quality roads, facilitating seamless connectivity across member state.
  
• Road extention:  The European Union’s road network remains the backbone of internal mobility and freight transport, covering over 5 million kilometers across the continent. Within the framework of the TEN-T initiative, significant emphasis has been placed on enhancing cross-border road connectivity and upgrading highways to meet uniform safety and capacity standards. Among EU member states, France, Germany, and Spain boast the most extensive road infrastructures. Germany leads in motorway length, with over 13,000 km, reflecting its central role in continental freight and logistics. France follows with a well-distributed network exceeding 11,000 km, while Spain, known for rapid motorway expansion in recent decades, maintains over 10,900 km. These countries are also among the largest beneficiaries of EU funds dedicated to infrastructure modernization, particularly along the core TEN-T corridors such as the Atlantic, North Sea-Mediterranean, and Rhine–Danube routes. Meanwhile, Central and Eastern European countries—like Poland and Romania—are accelerating motorway expansion through EU co-financing, aiming to bridge long-standing connectivity gaps and better integrate with Western supply chains.
  
• Traffic Variability  Traffic volumes on TEN-T roads vary significantly. For instance, certain sections in Finland experience as few as 305 vehicles per day, highlighting the diverse usage patterns across the networ.

Modal Split of Passenger Transport in the EU

As of the latest available data, the distribution of passenger transport modes in the EU is as follows:​

• Road Transport: Dominates passenger mobility, accounting for approximately 82% of total passenger-kilometres. This includes private cars, buses, and coaches.​
• Rail Transport: Represents about 8% of passenger-kilometres, indicating room for growth in sustainable mobility options.​
• Air Transport: Accounts for around 10% of passenger-kilometres, primarily for long-distance and international travel.​
  

Passenger Transport by rail (as of 2023)

• Passenger Transport: In 2023, the European Union witnessed a significant uptick in rail passenger transport, reaching 429 billion passenger-kilometers. This is not a particularly good result for Europe, as—aside from the fluctuations during the COVID-19 years—the number of rail passengers has remained largely unchanged over the past decade. Major contributors come from France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, which collectively account for a substantial portion of the EU's rail passenger volume. Rail accounts for about 8% of passenger transport in the EU, indicating potential for growth in sustainable mobiliy.   Despite this growth, rail's share in the overall passenger transport modal split remains relatively modest.    This figure underscores the considerable potential for rail to expand its role, especially in the context of the EU's sustainability goals.​ The European Union's commitment to enhancing rail infrastructure is announced in initiatives like the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which aims to improve cross-border connectivity and reduce travel times. By investing in high-speed rail lines and modernizing existing networks, the EU could make rail travel more competitive with other modes, particularly for medium to long-distance journeys.​ Moreover, the environmental advantages of rail—such as lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to road and air transport—align with the EU's broader objectives under the European Green Deal. By promoting rail as a sustainable alternative, the EU not only could address climate change concerns but also enhance energy efficiency and reduce congestion on roads.​ In summary, while rail currently holds a smaller share of passenger transport in the EU, strategic investments and policy initiatives position it as a key player in the future of sustainable European mobility.
  

Freight Transport by rail in the EU (2013–2023)

• Freight Transport:  Railways carry approximately only 17% of Europe's freight, despite accounting for only 0.4% of transport emissions, underscoring rail's efficiency and environmental benefis. This is not a good result achieved by Europe, because the volume of goods transported by rail is practically at the same level as it was 10 years ago.
  

Trends and Developments

• Rail Passenger Growth: In 2023, EU rail passenger transport reached a record 429 billion passenger-kilometres, marking an 11.2% increase compared to 2022 and surpassing pre-pandemic leves.
  
• National vs. International Rail Travel: National journeys constitute over 90% of rail passenger transport in most EU countries, with exceptions like Luxembourg and Czechia, where international travel plays a more significant roe.
• Per Capita Rail Usage: Germany and Austria lead in rail usage, with approximately 32 rail passengers per capita in 203.
  
  

Future Outlook and Investments (as of 2023)

• Infrastructure Upgrades: The EU aims to complete the core TEN-T network by 2030 and the comprehensive network by 2050, focusing on enhancing cross-border connections and eliminating bottleneks.
  
• Funding: The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has allocated €25.8 billion for TEN-T projects between 2021 and 2027, supporting infrastructure development and modernization effots.
  
• Sustainability Goals: The TEN-T initiative aligns with the European Green Deal, promoting low-emission transport modes and integrating alternative fuel infrastructure across the netwrk.