Ash cloud highlighted the need and potential for interconnecting European high-speed rail routes

The recent Icelandic ash cloud, which brought flights to a halt over Europe, demonstrated the need and potential of interconnecting main European rail high-speed rail routes, according to the annual report of the Community of European Rail and Infrastructure Companies.

Mauro Moretti, CER chairman, said that a lack of investment had “significantly contributed to a deterioration” with regard to the rail industry’s ability to compete with other forms of transport. He continued by saying that  ”What is needed is solid financial architecture  of the rail system, together with market opening, competition, increasing efficiency and customer orientation. This is the way forward to a successful contribution of rail to a competitive EU transport system.”

The report comes at a time when transport minister Philip Hammond has ordered a comprehensive review of rolling stock orders for the UK.

During the ash cloud crisis, which grounded flights and closed airports across Europe, the rail network carried on as normal and even provided extra trains on a number of main routes to cater for domestic air passengers caught up in the chaos.

East Coast passengers rush to join a train at King's Cross. East Coast is one of the TOCs that ran extra trains for stranded air passengers. Picture: www.upmain.com