Rail transport
The EU and its member states are working together to develop a better connected, safe and sustainable railway network.
Rail interconnectivity and sustainability
The EU has one of the densest railway networks in the world, however national railway systems across the EU vary.
The process of improving the compatibility of EU member states' national railway systems started in the 1990s with the end goal of developing an efficient and competitive EU-wide railway network – the single European railway area.
Rail transport in the EU in figures
5.1% of passenger mobility in the EU is provided by railways.
Only 0.4% of EU transport greenhouse gas emissions result from rail transport, making it an environmentally-friendly means of transport.
Only 1.9% of the EU’s transport energy consumption can be attributed to rail transport.
To strengthen EU rail policy, the EU has adopted four railway packages which aim to:
- open the railway market to competition
- increase the interoperability of national railway systems
- define a framework for a single European railway area
The four legislative packages include common provisions on:
- the liberalisation of the rail market
- the licensing of railway undertakings and train driver certification
- safety requirements
- the creation of the European agency for railways and rail regulatory bodies in each member state
- rail passenger rights
In November 2025 the Council also reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament to harmonise, simplify and rationalise the management of the available capacity for trains on the EU’s rail network, both within and across member states.
- Better rail services: Council adopts 4th railway package market pillar (press release, 17 October 2016)
- Improved rail passenger rights adopted by Council (press release, 25 January 2021)
- Council and Parliament agree on rules for a better management and increased use of Europe’s railway infrastructure (press release, 19 November 2025)
Single European railway area
The single European railway area is an EU-wide system of rail networks to allow the expansion of the rail sector based on competition, technical harmonisation and joint development of cross-border connections, by:
- opening and restructuring the rail market
- increasing competitiveness and creating a level playing field for rail companies
- developing infrastructure to ensure interoperability
- improving efficiency in infrastructure use and safety
- ensuring fair prices for consumers
Sustainable and smart mobility
As part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission presented its sustainable and smart mobility strategy in December 2020. The strategy outlines the EU's goals for the transport sector for the coming decades: making mobility green, smart and resilient. For the rail sector, the strategy calls for a doubling of high-speed rail by 2030 in the EU.
In June 2021, the Council adopted conclusions on this topic. The Council welcomed the Commission’s strategy and subscribed to its ambitious vision for the transport sector and its contribution to sustainability over the coming years and decades.
In June 2021, the Council also adopted conclusions on rail. EU ministers highlighted the need to further develop rail transport for both passengers and goods in the EU. They also stressed the importance of strengthening the resilience of rail in the face of a crisis and continuing to invest in the interoperability of national systems and improved connectivity.
As part of the greening freight package, the Commission presented its proposal on the use of railway infrastructure capacity on 11 July 2023. This initiative includes measures aimed at better managing, coordinating and thereby increasing the capacity of railways. The Council agreed its negotiating position on the proposal in June 2024 and is currently negotiating the final shape of the proposal with the Parliament.
Connecting Europe Facility
The EU's rail policy is supported by a number of financing programmes, including the Connecting Europe Facility which funds strategic investment projects in the areas of transport, digital and energy.
The regulation applies retroactively from 1 January 2021. The transport sector will receive the bulk of the funding (about €25 billion out of €33 billion), of which by far the largest share will be dedicated to rail.
Safety and passengers’ rights
Europe’s railways are among the safest in the world. To run trains on the European network, every railway company has to fulfil harmonised safety standards set by the EU legislation.
Role of the European Railway Agency
The European Railway Agency (ERA) develops common approaches to safety, working closely with stakeholders from the rail sector as well as with national authorities, the EU institutions and other interested parties. Featuring a dedicated safety unit, ERA also monitors and reports on rail safety in the EU.
Passengers’ rights
In 2021, the EU revised its rules on rail passengers to better protect the rights of passengers, in particular those with disabilities or reduced mobility. The provisions also support clean mobility by making it easier for travellers to transport their bikes on trains.
The revised rules oblige railway undertakings to install bicycle spaces and inform passengers of available capacity for bikes. As a general rule, there need to be at least four spaces for bicycles on each European train.
The new rules entered into force in June 2021.
More on other modes of transport
Read about EU policies on air, road and maritime transport.
Related content
Better-connected transport
Greener transport
Safer transport
Last review: 19 November 2025