APPEAL TO NEW MEPs AND MEMBER STATES

Armand Duthil is a young person in his 20s who believes in the European project. He grew up in France, studied in the Republic of Ireland, worked in Italy, and is now based in Belgium.

Now, after six months, Armand is coming to the end of his traineeship at ALLRAIL. During this period, he witnessed the elections in both parliaments of the European Union and of his home country, France.

Therefore, at the end of his time with us, we asked: “How do you see the Future of Passenger Rail?” 

Here is Armand’s answer:

▶ “It is really discouraging that, 70 years after Europe first came together, just 4% of people crossing internal EU borders take the train.

▶ As long as there are incumbent-dominated markets, then national markets will remain protected and there will be no European seamless cross-border rail market to bring down prices and offer alternatives to more polluting modes of transport.

▶ That is why faster market opening is essential to make rail attractive to passengers.

▶ In all other transport modes, a Single Market already exists. Therefore, we cannot be content with excuses about how “it cannot be done in passenger rail”.”

Armand Duthil appeals to both MEPs and Member States: “End the fragmentation in the areas of rail ticketing, capacity management, operational languages and more.

Citizens have elected you to deliver over the next 5 years. It is time to enable the necessary market conditions that will drive the growth of cross-border passenger rail to achieve One Europe, One Railway.”