UIC was pleased to be at Paris Gare de l’Est station a few days ago with SNCF, the European Commission and representatives of the French State to welcome the Connecting Europe Express and celebrate its wonderful journey across the EU.

UIC Director General François Davenne took the opportunity to discuss preparations for the next climate commitment – COP26 – with his partners at the European Union Agency for Railways, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies and UITP partners. Mr Davenne stressed the fact that this is the decade for decisive action.

Rail can transform our cities and territories by 2030 – we must increase our use of trains for passengers and goods by 50% and double our high-speed rail network. To this end, UIC is calling for a paradigm shift in transport based on the United Nations strategy – avoid, shift, improve – in order to design a better future.