More and more people move across the continent. Low cost air has offered some opportunities, the long-distance buses have become popular. Rail transport is still an option, either high-speed, conventional or both. After a reduction of Euro-City trains and the almost disappearance of night trains some years ago, international trains have become more numerous again though at a lower level than before. There are ambitious infrastructure plans in the countries of the Rhine-Alpine Corridor though its full implementation is delayed by 2035 or beyond. According to Germany\u2019s last year\u2019s EU-presidency, Deutschland-Takt (clockface timetable) should not stop at borders to connect important cities European-wide.<\/p>
What does this mean for the Rhine-Alpine Corridor? More high-speed rail, less or a mix of high speed and conventional rail? How to accelerate the implementation of an integrated timetable? What other measures can be taken already now to make transport more rail-friendly and more user-friendly? This includes railway stations as important interfaces between modes and service centres.<\/p>
This is the European Year of Rail. A good occasion to act and to start into a new railway era.<\/p>
The 7th<\/sup> Rhine-Alpine Talk takes up on the results obtained at the EU-project RAISE-IT (Rhine-Alpine Integrated and Seamless Travel Chain) aiming at achieving a better and seamless travel chain for passenger trains along this corridor and invites outstanding experts to discuss on overcoming barriers in international passenger transport.<\/p>