For years, train lines have been multiplying to facilitate cross-border travel in Europe. But according to "21st Europe," these efforts remain too scattered. The group, founded by the former co-director of Space10, Ikea's creative lab, offers a radically different approach with Starline: an integrated network, designed like a continental subway.
A network to forget borders
The concept is clear: "Europeans must no longer see their continent as a mosaic of distant capitals, but as a fluid network where every connection is quickly accessible," explains the Copenhagen-based organization. Starline trains aim for speeds between 300 and 400 km/h, promising, for example, to connect Helsinki to Berlin in just over five hours — compared to one day today.
The network would cover 22,000 km, with 39 destinations served, including non-EU capitals such as Kyiv, Istanbul, and London. More than just a transport project, Starline is one of the possible answers to the environmental and social problems of the old continent.
The project aims to eliminate the shortcomings of the current rail network: complicated tickets to book, inconsistent trains from one country to another, aging stations, etc. Starline is banking on a strong, unified and visually compelling experience: a harmonized design, a deep blue livery that's instantly recognizable, and cars redesigned according to needs - silence for work, spaces for families or leisure.
Stations will no longer be mere transit points. Built on the outskirts of major cities and connected to urban networks, they will house restaurants, museums, and even concert halls. This will strengthen their role as living spaces.
In terms of governance, Starline would be publicly financed and managed by national operators, under the coordination of a new European Railway Authority (ERA). The objective is to ensure technical, regulatory, and human consistency across the entire network. Staff would thus be trained according to a common framework across the continent.
"21st Europe" makes no secret of the ecological ambition of its project. While the transport sector represented nearly 30% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, Starline aims to offer a credible alternative to flying, particularly over short distances.
Countries like France and Austria have already banned certain domestic flights when a train alternative exists. But "a real impact requires a continental approach," insists the think tank. For its designers, Starline is also a geopolitical tool: by strengthening connections between countries, including those in the East, it contributes to “Secure exchanges, support commerce, and strengthen cultural ties between peoples.
Launched as a call to decision-makers, the project is not yet official. But its initiators hope to make it a reality by the end of the century. “It's the right time to rethink the way we move, and create a fast, sustainable, and inspiring network,” they conclude.
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