Czechia, France & Spain: Where Are European Railway Networks Growing The Fastest?

The European rail network has doubled its high-speed capacity in just 19 years, with Czechia, France and Spain leading the way. However, which EU nation is growing its railway networks the fastest and has the most lines?

Railway networks are growing in Europe, but not fast enough

As Europe works to grow its clean transport transition, its high-speed rail network has almost doubled. However, despite this, the latest official figures reveal that they are not improving quickly enough.

Meanwhile, lines capable of carrying trains at 250 km/h and more have criss-crossed the continent for 8,556 km. According to Eurostat, this is up from 5,812 in 2013. However, while these are good numbers, the full railway network actually shrunk by 1.3 percent during that time while, stretching only 200,947 km in 2023.

However, during that time, the EU bloc’s total rail network shrunk by 1.3 percent, stretching only 200,947 km.

Carlos Rico, Rail Policy Officer at the campaign group Transport & Environment, said:

Europe is not upgrading its railways fast enough.

Despite rail lines being the backbone of the EU’s clean transport transition, the latest figures show a map of uneven progress.

Which European country features the highest density of rail lines?

Among the European countries, Czechia has the highest density of railway network in the EU, offering 123.2 meters of rail lines per square kilometer. According to the National Railway Manager, Správa železnicand, most of its lines were built during the reign of the monarchy from the 19th century onwards. Moreover, they were taken over the the communist regime which prioritized rail transport over roads.

Next in line are Belgium (119.2 m/km²), Germany (109.5 m/km²) and Luxembourg (104.8 m/km²). Eurostat analysts say the countries with the highest density of railway networks are all located in the center of Northern Europe. This reflects both their high population density and the relatively high volumes of freight transport.

Meanwhile, the lowest railway network densities are in Greece (14.0 m/km²), and Finland (19.4 m/km²), which has the lowest population density in the EU. Next is Sweden (26.8 m/km²), Estonia (27.2 m/km²), Portugal (27.8 m/km²), Latvia (28.9 m/km²) and Ireland (29.8 m/km²) round out the bottom of the list.

‘Affordable and reliable’

Meanwhile, Rico spoke of the importance of railway network density:

For a railway system to triumph it needs to be affordable and reliable. If the network is very large but frequencies are poor, prices are too high and delays are constant, it will not be able to capture a significant demand.

And without those passengers, the system will be harder to maintain financially.

Which EU nation has the most high-speed railway lines?

Within the European Union, high-speed rail lines often span national borders, offering seamless travel around the block. According to Eurostat, this network has seen significant growth, rising by 47 percent in the decade leading up to 2023.

Leading the way in Spain, with its 3,190 km of high-speed lines, a 66 per cent increase from 2013.  This reflects its status as by far the biggest benefactor of EU funds for high-speed rail between 2000 and 2017, receiving almost half of the funding on offer for the whole bloc. Moreover, it is also the result of very low construction costs as compared with other countries.

Meanwhile, France is fairly close behind Spain with 2,748 km of high-speed lines, a 35 per cent increase from 2013. It is followed by Germany with 1,163 km and Italy with 1,097 km.

However, Rico added:

High speed lines are a part of the solution, but they are not the silver bullet. Rail will contribute to transport decarbonisation in coordination with road electrification and clean fuels for aviation and shipping.

Meanwhile, he added that to realize the climate potential of rail, EU nations need increased competition, simplified cross-border ticketing and a common signaling system in Europe. The latter will enable better rail connectivity and services without the need for new infrastructure.