A radical new high-speed train network, dubbed the 'European Tube', has been proposed with the potential to transform travel across the continent, linking 39 major holiday destinations and rendering short-haul flights obsolete.
The Starline Vision: Connecting a Continent
The ambitious proposal comes from the Copenhagen-based think tank, 21st Europe. Christened the 'Starline' system, it is designed to forge a new era of connectivity, slashing journey times and carbon emissions exponentially compared to current rail options. The plan is framed not just as a transport solution but as a tool for creating a stronger sense of European cohesion, addressing what the designers call a current lack of a "unifying vision" in existing infrastructure.
The proposed network would feature five major lines spanning the vast continent:
- Naples to Helsinki
- Lisbon to Kyiv
- Madrid to Istanbul
- Dublin to Kyiv
- Milan to Oslo
Modelled on the efficiency of the London Underground, the system would allow passengers to make swift changes at major hub stations, seamlessly navigating from one end of Europe to the other.
A Sustainable Travel Revolution
For the environmentally conscious traveller, the Starline proposal promises a monumental shift. The think tank highlights that the network could cut carbon emissions by an incredible 95%, providing a significant boost to the continent's ambitions of reaching net zero. This would be achieved by offering a viable, high-speed alternative to carbon-heavy short-haul flights.
The proposal directly tackles the current pain points of international rail travel, which the think tank identifies as "complex ticketing, inconsistent service, and outdated stations." This fragmentation is underscored by a striking statistic from 2023: while eight billion people took a high-speed train journey, a mere nine per cent of those trips involved crossing an international border—a figure the Starline aims to dramatically increase.
More Than Just Transport: A Symbol of Unity
Every detail of the Starline proposal has been carefully considered, with renewable energy at its core. The vision extends beyond pure logistics into the realm of identity. The trains, finished in a deep blue with yellow interiors, are designed to mirror the colours of the European flag. The think tank describes this as an exercise in "identity making", positioning the network as a physical symbol of European connection.
The scale of the ambition is evident when compared to similar projects, such as the proposed £1,000,000,000 'Welsh Tube' in South Wales. While that project aims to link 105 miles, the European Starline envisions a network connecting cities from the UK and Ireland all the way to Turkey and Ukraine, truly realising the dream of a continent united by rail.
