Economy - published on 05 January 2021
Source: European Commission Spokesperson’s Service
Friday, 1 January 2021, marked the beginning of the European Year of Rail. The European Commission initiative will highlight the benefits of rail as a sustainable, smart and safe means of
transport. A variety of activities will put rail in the spotlight throughout 2021 across the continent, to encourage the use of rail by both citizens and businesses and to contribute to the EU
Green Deal goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050. Adina Vălean, Commissioner for Transport, said: “Our future mobility needs to be sustainable, safe, comfortable and
affordable. Rail offers all of that and much more! The European Year of Rail gives us the opportunity to re-discover this mode of transport. Through a variety of actions, we will use this occasion
to help rail realise its full potential. I invite all of you to be part of the European Year of Rail.” In the EU, rail is responsible for less than 0.5% of transport-related greenhouse gas
emissions. This makes it one of the most sustainable forms of passenger and freight transport. Among other benefits, rail is also exceptionally safe and it connects people and businesses across the
EU via the Trans-European
Transport network (TEN-T). Despite these advantages, only about 7% of passengers and 11% of goods travel by rail. The European Year of Rail will create momentum to help increase rail’s share
of passenger and freight transport. This will cut the greenhouse gas emissions and pollution coming from EU transport significantly, making a huge contribution to the EU’s efforts under the
European Green Deal. A press release is available online.
