What can you see on the map?

The map shows existing and potential, but currently non-existent, direct train connections between 53 cities in Europe. It distinguishes between routes which are served by day trains (yellow lines), by night trains (blue lines) and by both day and night trains (purple lines). For missing direct train connections, it distinguishes between potential routes that take less than 12 hours (day or night trains, marked by light grey dashed lines) and those that take between 12 and 18 hours (night trains, marked by dark grey dashed lines). Any of these categories can be displayed by clicking on the icons.

Additionally, the city ranking results are shown at the top of the bar on the right side. This ranking includes 42 cities, excluding Istanbul, Kyiv, Chisinau, and eight smaller cities in Germany, France, Switzerland, and the UK.

What criteria were used to select the 53 cities?

The map includes cities in all European countries that currently can or could be reached by train. Only the following countries are excluded: island states without rail tracks to other countries, the five smallest European countries, Russia and Belarus (due to the Ukraine war, there is no passenger transport to these two countries), and the countries on the European side of the Caucasus such as Georgia.

The selection criteria include:

>> All capital cities, except Zurich instead of Bern for Switzerland
>> All cities with more than one million inhabitants
>> The second and third largest cities of the five most populated countries
>> Eight other cities of high national relevance

What is this map for?

Greenpeace created this map to demand more direct train connections in Europe. Travelling by train is five times more environmentally friendly than flying, and direct trains offer a more convenient travel option compared to changing trains.

What database does the map use?

The database for the map is based on the Greenpeace report “Connectivity failed”, published on July 2nd, 2024. Data for train routes has been taken from the public information systems of both public and private railway companies.

What are the key findings of the new Greenpeace report "Connectivity failed"?

>> The analysis shows that European cities are still far better connected by air than by rail, despite aviation's damaging impact on the climate.
>> Of the 990 routes between the 45 major European cities Greenpeace analysed, only 12% can currently be travelled by direct trains, while 69% can be travelled by direct flight. This is six times as many direct flights as direct train connections between these 45 cities.
>> Of 990 routes, 42% – 419 routes – could be easily served by a direct train with a journey time of less than 18 hours using the existing rail infrastructure.
>> However, at present only 27% (114 of the potential 419 direct train routes), are in fact served by direct train, leaving 73% (305 potential routes) not being served by a direct train.
>> The untapped potential for direct trains between European cities is considerable: Direct train connections in Europe could be more than tripled using existing rail infrastructure.

Why are some existing trains not shown on the map?

The map excludes train connections that are purely seasonal or occasional, operating for up to four months a year. Additionally, connections departing or arriving between 1:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. are not represented. Overall, these are just a handful of routes. If you have found a route that is not represented on the map, please send a message to service@greenpeace.at (Key word: Train map).

Why are there certain trains defined as “existing” but I cannot find them in train information systems?

Some trains included on the map run more than four months a year but not year-round. Additionally, some trains are not listed in public rail information systems. In such cases, an online search can help you find more information about these connections.

Why do you show straight lines instead of actual train routes?

The map aims to illustrate both existing and potential train connections between the 55 cities selected. The actual routes taken by trains are not relevant for this purpose. In addition, some trains follow different routes during the day and at night, making it too complex to depict accurately.

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