Joint Strategy for European Rail Research 2020. Towards a Single European Railway System.

摘要

A successful, larger and more integrated Europe for the 21st century depends essentially on the availability of efficient transport systems supporting sustainable economic growth and social development. Transporting passengers and goods by rail is a major instrument to combat congestion, pollution, global warming and traffic accidents. All these negative externalities undermine the efficiency of European economy and the health of future generations. The enlargement of the European Union and the globalisation of economy have fostered the growth of an international transport market, now outpacing economic growth. The rail sector today faces the demanding challenge of accommodating higher transport volumes, a result of transport growth, and of policies favouring modal shift.