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Ultimately, it takes very little to daydream about a wonderful future: simply dive into the documents produced by the European Commission.
Forget the legendary Five-Year Plans of the USSR! The European initiative, which aims for a comprehensive enhancement of the railway infrastructure across the continent, is immensely more ambitious, setting the stage for the next 25 years, stretching all the way to 2050!
The program is clear: the “core network,” which includes crucial connections between major cities and capitals, is expected to be completed by 2030.
Following this, the “extended network” must be finalized by 2040.
Finally, the “global network,” linking all EU regions to the core network, should be finished by 2050.
This presents a colossal business opportunity for various industries—from construction to mechanical engineering—focusing on improving infrastructure to enhance travel speeds.
By 2040, the entire “extended network” will need to support speeds of at least 160 km/h.
Furthermore, existing safety infrastructures must be upgraded to incorporate the ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System), phasing out national systems.
Additionally, multimodal transfer points will have to be established, connecting with airports and ensuring urban links to promote “zero and low emission mobility.”
Today, much like in the past, meticulous planning has been underway since 1993 to ensure “Growth, Competitiveness, and Employment” for Europe—an almost prophetic path to follow! Back then, the visionary leader was Jacques Delors, who served as President of the European Commission for a decade, a milestone that the current President Ursula Von der Leyen aspires to achieve during her second term.
Delors published a White Paper highlighting the roots of Europe’s crisis that had persisted for 25 years, long before the severe energy crisis of 1973, noting increasing unemployment alongside a stagnant economic product.
Since 1993—thirty years ago—five objectives were clearly outlined concerning the development of transportation infrastructures, referred to as TEN-T (Trans European Network- Transport).
These objectives, relevant even today yet largely unfulfilled, included:
This time, the initiative focuses on enhancing railway networks to cater to Military Mobility needs that emerged following the “unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” leading to the creation of a dual-use infrastructure for both civilian and military purposes.
It’s essential to enable quick, large-scale movement of personnel and equipment within and beyond the EU… potentially even to Moscow!
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