A large-scale high-speed rail network is planned in Europe, and Ukraine will be connected by rail

The Starline project, initiated by the 21st Europe think tank, is intended to transform the continent into a single high-speed rail system. By 2040, it is planned to create a 22,000 km long network that will connect dozens of cities, including Kyiv. Find out more about how this will change travel for Ukrainians and Europe as a whole

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Europe is on the verge of a transport revolution: a unique high-speed rail network is planned to be created that will connect 39 cities and turn the continent into a single mobile system.

The Starline project, developed by the Danish think tank 21st Europe, sets an ambitious goal of building 22,000 km of high-speed railways within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) by 2040.

This project marks a new era in the development of European transportation, and importantly, Ukraine will be part of this global transformation. Two of the five main Starline lines start from Kyiv, which guarantees Ukraine close economic, cultural, and logistical ties with Europe.

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Five highways that will unite Europe

The Starline project envisages the creation of five major high-speed rail lines:

1. Kyiv - Lviv - Warsaw - Berlin - Amsterdam - Brussels - Paris - London - Liverpool - Dublin - Belfast - Glasgow

2. Kyiv - Chisinau - Bucharest - Sofia - Athens - Tirana - Sarajevo - Zagreb - Rome - Milan - Lyon - Bordeaux - Madrid - Lisbon

3. Madrid - Barcelona - Marseille - Lyon - Paris - Luxembourg - Frankfurt - Vienna - Budapest - Belgrade - Sofia - Istanbul

4. Oslo - Stockholm - Copenhagen - Hamburg - Berlin - Frankfurt - Munich - Zurich - Milan

5. Helsinki - Tallinn - Riga - Vilnius - Warsaw - Berlin - Prague - Munich - Zurich - Milan - Rome - Naples

Thus, Kyiv will have direct connections to key European capitals and economic centers, including London, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Rome, and Madrid.

The main features of the project include:

✅High-speed trains (300-400 km/h ) - traveling will become faster and more comfortable.

✅New multimodal stations - located near cities, they will become transport and cultural hubs with restaurants, shops, concert halls, and museums.

✅Environmental sustainability - the railroad will consume electricity from renewable sources, reducing CO₂ emissions by 90% compared to air travel.

✅Unified digital ticket system - travelers will be able to easily plan routes and transfers between countries.

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Ukraine and Europe: a new level of integration

The inclusion of Ukraine in the Starline system is important for several reasons:

🔹 Logistics revolution - Ukrainian goods will be able to be transported faster and cheaper to European markets, which will strengthen economic ties.

🔹Mobility of citizens - Ukrainians will be able to travel quickly to the EU, which is especially important in the context of European integration.

🔹 Recovery from the war - the construction of a high-speed railroad will contribute to the country's economic recovery.

The project can also become one of the symbols of Ukraine's infrastructural modernization after the end of hostilities.

Geopolitical significance of Starline

Creating a single rail network for the whole of Europe is not just about speed and comfort. It is a strategic decision that strengthens the unity of the continent:

The end of fragmentation - today, EU transportation systems are divided by national barriers, and Starline will eliminate them.

Competing with China - China has already built 42,000 km of high-speed railways, and Europe cannot be far behind.

Reducing short flights - France and Austria already ban air travel on routes with high-speed trains.

Economic impact: millions of jobs and new opportunities

🔸 Rail transport is 4 times more efficient than road transport, which means lower costs for businesses and passengers.

🔸Development of regions - high-speed rail stimulates the economy of cities, which is confirmed by the experience of China, where HSR connections led to a 14.2% increase in GDP.

🔸 A new wave of investment - the project will attract funds to construction, engineering, energy, and digital technologies.

Culture on the move: bringing back the romance of travel

In the 20th century, railroads determined the rhythm of Europe, and Starline is bringing this role back. Thanks to this:

🚆 Young people and tourists will get more affordable travel, similar to Interrail.

🚆 Rail travel will replace short-haul air travel, creating a more sustainable travel culture.

🚆 Traveling will become part of an experience, not just a journey from point A to point B.

Europe is facing a choice: to leave the railways fragmented or to make them a unifying force for the continent. The Starline project is not only a technical innovation, but also a new philosophy of mobility that brings Europe closer to its historical idea of unity through movement.

By becoming a part of this network, Ukraine will not only get new opportunities for development, but will also become an important player in the future transport map of Europe.

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We remind you! Due to the closed airspace, travelling to and from Ukraine is only possible by land. We talked about the railway connection between Ukraine and the EU countries.

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