The EU's plan to improve the high-speed train between Barcelona and Paris by 2040

BrusselsBrussels remains determined to improve connectivity between major European citiesThe European Commission presented its rail network plan this Wednesday, indicating that Barcelona and Paris must be connected by high-speed rail by 2040 at the latest. Specifically, the Commission is urging the adaptation of the track section between Perpignan and Nîmes, and ensuring that the entire route between the Catalan and French capitals is accessible via high-speed rail. Beyond the line between Perpignan and Nîmes, the European Commission has once again called on France to improve cross-border connections between Spain and France. European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, emphasized the importance of eliminating the bottlenecks that form at the border between the two countries. "Today we have presented connections between capital cities, but all major cities will be included, including Barcelona," the Greek representative noted.

Furthermore, the European Commission also aims to improve the connection between Lisbon, Madrid, and Paris, via the Basque Country, by 2035. By improving the connectivity of the Atlantic corridor and adapting it for high-speed trains, Brussels estimates that travel time between the Spanish and French capitals would be reduced from approximately ten hours to six. As for the connection between the Portuguese and Spanish capitals, Brussels wants the high-speed train journey to take around three hours.

Brussels also wants all major European Union airports—those handling over 12 million passengers annually—to be connected by high-speed or at least long-distance rail by 2030 at the latest. This would affect El Prat Airport and, among others, Palma Airport. The European Commission estimates that developing the plan for a high-speed rail network across the European Union would cost around €550 billion and admits that public investment alone is insufficient. Therefore, it has called on the European Investment Bank (EIB) to collaborate with the private sector to boost the continent's connectivity, which Brussels considers key to the EU's competitiveness and integration, as well as to reducing pollution from air transport.