site.btaEuropean Commission Proposes Construction of Sofia-Athens High-Speed Railway Line

The European Commission Wednesday presented a proposal for high-speed rail to improve cross-border and long-distance train travel across Europe by 2040. The new High-Speed Rail Action Plan includes the railway line between Sofia and Athens, with travel times expected to take 6 hours instead of 13 hours and 40 minutes. 

The Plan also envisages high-speed travel on the following railway lines: Budapest-Bucharest, Berlin-Copenhagen, Berlin-Vienna-Prague, Paris-Madrid-Lisbon, Munich-Rome, and the lines between Baltic countries.

The aim is to develop lines capable of reaching speeds of at least 200 km/h. The Commission's proposal also includes improving ticket purchasing options and the sale of second-hand rolling stock.

The main objective of the changes is to replace short-haul air travel in order to reduce environmental pollution. The Commission notes that the changes would relieve road congestion and expand military mobility options.

The communication states that the European Commission plans to provide nearly EUR 3 billion for the development of clean aircraft fuels by 2027. By 2035, EUR 100 billion is expected to be allocated for this purpose.