Existing tracks could more than triple direct rail services between major cities, reducing reliance on air travel.
A new study conducted by Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe has unveiled a significant opportunity to expand direct train connections between major European cities, potentially reducing the continent’s reliance on air travel and its associated environmental impacts. The analysis, which examined 990 routes connecting 45 major cities, found that direct train connections could be more than tripled using existing tracks.
Currently, just 114 routes (12%) offer direct train connections, while an additional 305 routes (31%) could support direct services but remain unserved. Implementing direct daytime services or night trains on these unserved routes could substantially enhance rail connectivity across Europe.
The research also highlighted a stark disparity between direct flight and train connections, with 69% of the analysed routes offering direct flights. This imbalance suggests that Europe’s transport infrastructure still favours air travel over more environmentally friendly rail options.