The Connecting Europe Express train has begun its journey through Europe. It will stop in 100 cities in 26 countries for 36 days. See when he arrives in Bucharest!
"Connecting Europe Express", a special train built as part of the European Year of Railways 2021, departed from Lisbon station on September 2. He will stop in over 100 cities during his five-week trip, before arriving in Paris on October 7. The train will stop on September 17 in Bucharest, and CFR Călători will ensure the traction of this train on the Romanian territory.
It will stop in 100 cities in 26 countries for 36 days
Connecting Europe Express will actually consist of three different trains: the Iberian provided by Renfe, Standard and the Baltic provided by LTG Lithuania. There are differences in track gauges.
The standard train will have a wagon provided by the Hungarian company MAV, which will host a mobile exhibition organized by the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment (CINEA); another from the French company SNCF, which will be used for conferences; a restaurant wagon from FS Italia; a sleeping car from ÖBB Austria; as well as two regular wagons with seats from DB Germany and SBB Switzerland.
TODAY IS THE DAY!
- EU Transport (@Transport_EU) September 2, 2021
The #ConnectingEurope Express will depart today from Lisbon, to start its five-week journey across the continent!
🛤️Follow the conference & departure ceremony LIVE & find out when it will stop at a station near you: https://t.co/ioVjgFcGUW#EUYearofRail pic.twitter.com/Styt2pqBRX
Along the way, various events are planned to receive the train at stations across Europe, as explained by the European Commission.
The project also aims to raise awareness of the importance of this means of transport to achieve the objectives of the fight against climate change and the need for a strong European railway sector.
"Currently, there are too many technical barriers in cross-border rail transport and it is very difficult to take a train across Europe's national borders," warns European Railway Community (CCFE) President Andreas Matthä. A strong European railway sector "is vital to achieving the EU's climate change goals".
The Connecting Europe Express initiative is the result of cooperation between the European Commission and the European Railway Community (CFFE), European railway operators, infrastructure managers and many other partners at local and EU level.