Railway to (consumer) heaven

Taking the train is a daily routine for many consumers, but it is certainly not yet a reflex for everyone when comparing with the predominance of car journeys. And for longer trips, the plane remains the go-to choice for many. That is because there are many barriers to modal shift, ranging from timetable coordination of railways or investment capacity to very practical issues such as comfort, frequency, and ticket prices.

By focusing on improving the quality of rail service beyond the rationale of simply calling for large-scale investments, the EU and Member States will encourage more consumers to prefer the train every day, ultimately making the train more competitive and attractive vis-à-vis other transport modes.