Twenty-four leaders of European rail companies, including SNCF boss Jean-Pierre Farando, want to work together “Improving the attractiveness of rail across the continent”File a claim “Heavy European Investment” Tie “A New European Railway Agreement”, “Train is the most eco-responsible mode of motorized transport”The leaders argue in a column published in France on 20 February Sunday newspaperregret that “The share of rail in the transportation of passengers and goods is so low”,

“Since we share the belief that rail has an important role to play in the fight against climate change, we are firmly committed to the development of trains in Europe”They a. write before “European Railway Summit” Which they will have to meet on Monday at the headquarters of SNCF. They promise better service to customers, greener and more recyclable trains, an effort at innovation and more diverse recruitment, creating more space for women and youth.

Climate issue as an argument

“This agreement is ambitious: we will only succeed together”Despite the differences and competition between their companies, they claim. with “A common objective: to increase the share of rail in transportation and thus contribute to achieving climate neutrality by 2050”, “We need member states and the EU. We call on them to support this agreement by committing to setting clear modal shift targets at the national level.Leaders insist.

“New resources are needed to better finance the rail system and public transport. In order to make massive investments in the modernization of rail networks, to increase their capacity and their interoperability, to modernize rolling stock, we need resources. the wanted. “

They also call on Brussels and Member States to “Promoting the rules of fair competition among the means of transport”, especially taking into account their ecological footprint. On the French side, in addition to Jean-Pierre Farando, the platform is signed by the General Manager of Getlink (Eurotunal), Yann Lerich, and the President of Licía (discount of the Tours-Bordeaux line), Hervé Le Cognac. as well as by Director Generals of Thalis and Eurostar, SNCF subsidiaries.

With approximately 29,000 km of lines, the French rail network is the second longest rail network in Europe. Its density – the ratio between the total length of the railway lines and the area of ​​the region – is close to that of Italy and the United Kingdom, which is greater than Spain but clearly less than Germany.

In addition, the owners of the German national railway companies Deutsche Bahn, Austrian OBB, Belgian SNCB, Danish DSB, Finnish VR, Hungarian MAV, Italian FS, Luxembourg CFL, Dutch NS, Portuguese CP, Slovenian SZ and Swiss SBB also sign on.