In recent years, Europe has been embarking on a number of rail projects to provide fast and efficient transportation across its borders. But a new plan proposed by the Copenhagen-based think tank 21st Europe sets out a much more ambitious goal to reshape the continent’s rail infrastructure. It aims to connect Europe, including the UK, Turkey and Ukraine, with a high-speed rail network called Starline.
Starline Network: Europe's New Transportation Destination
21st Europe’s proposed Starline network aims to make Europe’s existing railway infrastructure more efficient and integrated. The network, which will connect various cities and countries in Europe, aims to work like a metro system. However, the current railway system is “fragmented, disorganized and often slow,” creating a need for a major transformation in the continent’s transportation infrastructure.
The aim of this project is to shorten journey times and make Europe’s transport network more efficient. Starline aims to offer around 300% faster transport than current rail and road systems, with trains travelling at speeds of 400-30 km/h. For example, the current journey from Helsinki to Berlin takes 24 hours, while with Starline, this distance can be covered in less than five hours.
New Infrastructure and Stations: Cultural and Commercial Centers
Starline aims to improve not only speed but also passenger experience. Within the scope of the project, trains will not only meet the transportation needs of passengers, but also new stations will be designed as cultural and commercial centers. These stations will have shopping areas, restaurants, concert halls, museums, gyms and event areas. In this way, travel will become more than a service, passengers will be able to spend time at the stations and participate in cultural events.
Instead of class-based layouts, the carriages will be designed according to different needs, such as work areas, family-friendly sections and quiet areas. In this way, it is aimed to provide an experience that can meet the needs of every passenger. In addition, the trains will be dark blue, so that each Starline train can be easily distinguished.
Economic and Environmental Benefits: A Step Towards Europe's Green Future
Starline will not only increase the speed of transportation, but also aims for environmental sustainability. The transport sector, especially air transport, is one of Europe’s biggest climate problems and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. With this project, 21st Europe is highlighting the environmental benefits of high-speed rail. High-speed trains will emit up to 90 percent less CO2 per journey than short-haul flights.
The project will also make a significant contribution to Europe’s net zero emissions targets by 2050. Rail transport offers a more sustainable option as an environmentally friendly means of transport compared to road and air. With Starline, 21st Europe aims to strengthen Europe’s environmentally friendly transport infrastructure and provide mobility in a fast and green way.
The Starline Network and Europe's Resilience in the 21st Century
Starline is not just a transport project, it is critical to Europe’s resilience in the 21st century. 21st Europe says this high-speed rail network will play a key role in boosting Europe’s economic and social resilience. The project will make it easier for Europe to travel across borders, enabling trade, labour and people to move more quickly and efficiently, boosting economic growth and workforce mobility in Europe.
Can it happen?
The Starline network currently appears to be a very ambitious project, but 21st Europe predicts that the network could be operational by 2040. The project requires a Europe-wide integration structure, which requires a number of areas such as rail operators, train design, safety standards and ticketing systems to work together harmoniously. Financing and operating the project will also be a major challenge.
21st Europe says that public funds will be used to finance this project and that national railway companies will work on this system under the supervision of the European Railway Authority (ERA). In this way, railway operators and station staff will be trained and the system will be coordinated under a common European framework.
Starline: Europe's New Face of Transport
21st Europe’s Starline project promises to transform Europe’s transport infrastructure on a grand scale. The network could deliver significant benefits across the continent, both economically and environmentally. Once implemented, the project could revolutionise Europe’s transport system. However, this revolution will require cooperation and investment from governments, railway companies and policymakers. Starline is not just a transport network, it is also a vision that will increase Europe’s economic, environmental and social resilience.
Target 2040
Starline is a bold step towards transforming Europe’s mobility. But it will take a lot of planning, collaboration and funding to make it a reality. 21st Europe aims to deliver on this vision by 2040. If achieved, travelling across Europe will become faster, easier and more environmentally friendly than ever before.
