The jewel in the year’s locomotive facilities was unveiled last week in Lisbon, when a special ‘Connecting Europe Express’ pulled into the station in Lisbon, ready for a month-long trip through most of the EU’s member states.
After 20,000 kilometres and 26 countries, the train should pull into station in Paris on 7 October. The idea is to show people how connected Europe is and demonstrate the green credentials of train travel, at a time when clean transport is sorely needed.
According to EU transport commissioner Adina Valean: “Over the coming weeks, the Express will become a rolling conference, laboratory and forum for public debate on how to make rail the transport mode of choice for passengers and businesses alike.”
“Rail has shaped our rich, common history. But, rail is also Europe’s future, our route to mitigating climate change and powering economic recovery from the pandemic, as we build a carbon-neutral transport sector,” she added.
It is also...