Yesterday, with the launch of its services on the Koralm Railway (Koralmbahn) between Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt and Villach, the independent operator Westbahn introduced Stadler high-speed SMILE trains on Austria’s new north–south rail corridor.
Europe has declared its ambition: high-speed rail must become the backbone of long-distance mobility. With 2026 shaping up as the Year of High-Speed Rail, EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas has a unique opportunity to turn vision into results.
ALLRAIL welcomes yesterday’s announcement of the European Commission’s High-Speed Rail Plan — an important step towards a more connected rail system that all parts of society can afford. The plan rightly recognises that the success of Europe’s high-speed network depends on it being open, interoperable and competitive, so that every European can benefit.
It is Europe’s chance to get High-Speed Rail (HSR) right: The EU’s new HSR Master Plan by Transport Commissioner Tzitzikostas is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. But new rail infrastructure and subsidies alone will not deliver.
