Brussels, 16 April 2025

Yesterday, ALLRAIL joined the Implementation Dialogue on high-speed rail, hosted by EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas, to discuss how to improve high-speed rail connectivity across Europe.

ALLRAIL was represented by our Board Director Alvaro Ungurean, who was accompanied by Laurent Fourtune from our member, new entrant KEVIN SPEED (ilisto). 

Alvaro Ungurean delivered key messages:

The socioeconomic benefits of expanding high-speed rail connections across the EU are undeniable, and the momentum now presents a unique opportunity to ensure that this expansion delivers maximum value for citizens and taxpayers alike.

Indeed, as pointed out by the 2023 study “Smart and Affordable High-Speed Services in the European Union”, carried out by Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking, infrastructure alone is insufficient. 

▶ Without stimulating demand – notably through competition, new high-speed rail infrastructure risks being white elephants, i.e. severely underutilised, as seen in Spain before market opening or in the Channel Tunnel.

Furthermore, existing issues with existing infrastructure and services in passenger rail must be resolved. Otherwise, they will be replicated on future infrastructure and services, preventing them from reaching their full potential.

▶ This is especially true regarding the fragmentation of ticketing – an issue that will hopefully be tackled through the upcoming Single Digital Booking and Ticketing Regulation (SDBTR).

▶ The same applies to track access charges: Spain has demonstrated that lowering them can lead to more services and increased revenues.

Finally, attention to – and investments in – high-speed rail should not come at the expense of other segments of passenger rail, such as conventional long-distance and regional services.