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Making rail more attractive throughout Europe is what the bosses of major European railway companies are aiming for. They are twenty-four to sign a platform in the Sunday newspaper, in which they call for massive investment by the European Union for the good of the public… and the climate. And by the way, they are asking for new resources from the EU.
Increase the share of rail in transport and thus contribute to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This is what the leaders of national European railway companies are advocating, including the boss of the SNCF, Jean-Pierre Farandou. Also sign, among others, the owners of the Thalys and Eurostar subsidiaries of the SNCF and those of the national railway companies German Deutsche Bahn, Austrian ÖBB, Belgian SNCB, Danish DSB, Finnish VR, Hungarian MÁV, Italian FS, Luxembourg CFL, Dutch NS, Portuguese CP, Slovenian SZ and Swiss SBB.
« The train is the most eco-responsible mode of motorized transport “, plead the leaders in this open letter, lamenting that “ the share of rail in the transport of passengers and goods remains so low “, while the railway has a role to play in the reduction of polluting gases. According to the NGO Save the planetgreenhouse gas emissions in transport emissions come 60% from passenger cars, 26% from road freight transport, 7% from air transport, 2% from trains, 2% from buses, 2% from transport river and maritime and 1% of motorcycles.
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But improving the rail network takes lots and lots of money. Brussels should invest massively in the modernization of the existing networks in order to increase their capacity. We should also ensure that national networks are better connected to each other. In short: we need a new European railway pact, hammer the signatories of the platform who promise greener and better recyclable trains, and a more diversified recruitment and making more room for women and young people.
► Also to listen : The charm of night trains
A train capable of competing with airplanes and therefore saving time for passengers concerned about their carbon footprint, hence the stated desire, in France for example, to restart night trains. In order to prepare the future of rail transport in Europe, rail bosses must meet at the top. A day of round tables must be held at the invitation of the SNCF in the Parisian suburbs, from Monday morning.
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