Looking Ahead: 2024 and Beyond
As we move into 2024 and beyond, the EU’s commitment to revolutionising public transport continues with several ambitious projects:
1. The Urban Mobility Initiative
Set to launch in 2024, this initiative aims to transform urban mobility in European cities. It focuses on promoting sustainable modes of transport, such as cycling, walking, and shared mobility solutions. The initiative will fund projects that create more efficient and greener urban transport systems.
The European Union’s Urban Mobility initiative, as part of its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, aims to address the challenges of urban transportation and contribute to the EU’s ambitious climate, digital, and societal objectives. This initiative is a response to the need for further action in urban mobility, as demonstrated by the evaluation of the EU’s 2013 Urban Mobility Package. It proposes measures to encourage EU countries to develop urban transport systems that are safe, accessible, inclusive, affordable, smart, resilient, and emission-free, and also focuses on addressing transport pollution and congestion. The initiative draws lessons from the impacts of COVID-19 on public transport to aid in the transition to a climate-neutral economy and emission-free transport at the local level.
Statistically, urban areas are significant contributors to environmental and societal issues in the EU. Approximately 75% of total CO2 emissions occur in cities, with urban areas accounting for around 23% of the EU’s transport emissions. As of now, 70% of EU citizens live in cities, a figure expected to rise to almost 84% by 2050. Congestion alone costs the EU about EUR 270 billion annually. Moreover, the initiative addresses the varying stages of electromobility development across Member States, aiming for flexibility and specific exemptions to aid less developed regions in their transition to green mobility. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of public transport, which employs two million people in the EU, and the challenges it has faced during the pandemic, including reduced services and a labor shortage.
EIT Urban Mobility, an organization committed to promoting sustainable mobility in urban spaces, supports this initiative through its 2023-2025 Innovation Programme. This programme seeks proposals in key areas such as Sustainable City Logistics, Energy and Mobility, and Future Mobility, focusing on addressing issues faced by mass transit providers and promoting innovation in urban mobility. It aligns with the EU’s Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and aims to support projects that are close to market readiness and capable of testing new solutions in real-life city scenarios.
2. High-Speed Rail Expansion
The EU plans to invest heavily in expanding its high-speed rail network. This project aims to provide a faster, more efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative to air travel for intra-European journeys. It includes upgrading existing lines and constructing new ones, significantly reducing travel times between major European cities.
The European Union’s High-Speed Rail Expansion initiative for 2024 and beyond is a significant step towards enhancing the continent’s railway infrastructure. This ambitious plan, as part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) strategy, seeks to increase the high-speed rail capacity and improve cross-border rail services. This initiative is in line with the EU’s strategic milestones of doubling high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and tripling it by 2050. It encompasses a broad range of measures, including accelerating digitalization, modernizing infrastructure, and ensuring more efficient use of the rail network. The aim is also to make train travel more attractive by simplifying ticketing processes and reducing travel costs, potentially through tax exemptions similar to those implemented in Germany.
A significant proposal for the expansion of the high-speed rail network is the “Metropolitan Network,” which aims to connect two-thirds of Europeans by 2050. This involves expanding the current high-speed network from 11,300 km to 32,000 km, requiring the construction and upgrading of 21,000 km of track across Europe. The project aims to connect all 230 metropolitan regions (defined as urban agglomerations of more than 250,000 inhabitants) and large cities in Europe to the high-speed rail network, with service at least once an hour. This expansion is expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector and contribute to the European Green Deal’s goal of cutting transport emissions by 90% in 2050. Countries like Germany and Poland are expected to see considerable increases in their high-speed rail infrastructure through this initiative.
3. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses
Looking to further reduce the carbon footprint of public transport, the EU is investing in the development and deployment of hydrogen fuel cell buses. This project, part of the Horizon Europe program, focuses on creating a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional fossil fuel-powered buses.
The European Union’s initiative on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses, particularly through the JIVE (Joint Initiative for hydrogen Vehicles across Europe) project, marks a significant push towards greener public transportation. The JIVE project, which began in January 2017 and is set to run for six years, focuses on deploying 139 new zero-emission fuel cell buses across five countries. This project is part of a larger endeavor to commercialize fuel cell buses, aiming to make them a viable, subsidy-free option for bus operators by the end of the project. The initiative also includes the JIVE 2 project, starting in January 2018, which seeks to deploy 152 new zero-emission fuel cell buses across 14 European cities in countries like France, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK. Combined, these projects represent the largest deployment of fuel cell buses in Europe to date.
A core objective of these initiatives is to reduce the cost of standard fuel cell buses to €625k-€650k through economies of scale. They aim to demonstrate that fuel cell buses offer the same operational flexibility as diesel buses but without harmful emissions. These projects are also set to deploy the largest hydrogen refueling stations in Europe, operating at near 100% reliability, and to showcase routes to achieving low-cost renewable hydrogen. The overall strategy includes fostering joint procurement processes, validating large-scale fleets in operation, and encouraging further uptake of this technology in public transport systems across Europe.
These efforts align with the broader EU Hydrogen Strategy, which emphasizes the role of hydrogen in decarbonising various sectors, including transport. The strategy outlines the need for hydrogen refueling stations for the uptake of hydrogen fuel-cell buses, recognizing them as a promising option in transport sectors where electrification is more challenging. This strategy is integral to the EU’s commitment to achieving a sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation network.
Conclusion
The European Union’s commitment to revolutionising public transport is evident in its wide array of initiatives and projects. From the European Green Deal to Horizon Europe, and from electric buses to high-speed rail networks, the EU is leading the way in creating a more sustainable, efficient, and interconnected transport system. These efforts not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also enhance the quality of life for its citizens, setting a global benchmark in public transport innovation. As we look to the future, the continued investment and focus on sustainable transport solutions will be crucial in addressing the challenges of urbanisation, climate change, and economic development.