The European railway industry is increasingly emphasizing the link between railway development and one of the major issues of the day: reducing Europe’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.
In an analysis published amid Europe’s latest energy crisis, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) argues that rail transport already plays a strategic role in the European Union’s economy and calls for the EU’s future multiannual budget to include greater investment in rail infrastructure and services.
The message comes at a time when the issue of energy security has returned to the forefront. Frank Elderson, a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, recently warned that Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels represents one of the major vulnerabilities of the European economy. At the same time, the European Commission and member states are once again discussing energy resilience, against the backdrop of tensions in international markets.
CER: Rail transport saves oil and reduces emissions
According to calculations presented by CER, rail freight transport currently saves the equivalent of 144,000 barrels of oil per day in Europe, generates economic savings of 4.5 billion EUR per year, and avoids 22.5 million tons of CO2 annually. At the same time, passenger rail transport saves the equivalent of approximately 220,000 barrels per day, with estimated savings of 6.9 billion EUR per year and the avoidance of about 32.3 million tons of CO2 annually.
The association argues that expanding the European high-speed rail network could significantly amplify these effects. In the scenario outlined by the CER, a future network of 49,000 km connecting European capitals and major cities could save approximately 11.6 billion barrels of oil by 2070, valued at 750 billion EUR, as well as over 5 billion tons of CO2.
The energy argument, used for the future EU budget
Beyond the environmental figures, CER is attempting to shift the debate toward one of strategic autonomy. The organization argues that rail transport is the only high-capacity mode of transport already operating on a large scale using energy produced within the European Union, particularly electricity with an increasing share of renewable and other low-emission sources.
In this context, CER calls for the future EU multiannual financial framework, covering the period after 2027, to treat investments in rail not only as a transport or climate issue, but also as one of economic and energy resilience. This issue is particularly relevant as negotiations for the Union’s next long-term budget increasingly take center stage on the European agenda in 2026.
Rail, compared to road and air
CER also revisits the classic comparisons between modes of transport. According to the organization, freight transported by rail is 9 times more efficient in terms of CO2 emissions and 7 times more energy-efficient than road transport. At the same time, the rail sector is seeking to strengthen its case in the passenger market, arguing that new European ambitions regarding high-speed trains and the simplification of cross-border tickets could shift some of the demand currently directed toward air travel.
CER also cites data indicating that 3 out of 4 European citizens would choose high-speed rail over air travel for trips within the EU if the service were sufficiently attractive. Furthermore, the organization links the development of rail transport to the issue of sustainable tourism, arguing that a significant portion of tourism emissions stems precisely from transportation.
More at stake than just transportation
With this message, CER is attempting to link investments in railways more closely to the issue of Europe’s strategic autonomy. Against a backdrop of renewed tensions in the energy market, the rail sector is banking on the argument that it can reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and offer a more resilient alternative for passenger and freight transport.
It remains to be seen whether this argument will also be reflected in the European Union’s future budget, where competition for funds will be fierce. But the industry’s message is already clear: for operators and infrastructure managers, rail is no longer presented merely as a solution for reducing emissions, but also as a tool for economic and energy security for Europe.
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