A glimpse of the future? The Starline project aims to connect 39 cities with sleek high-speed trains like this one by 2040.Credit : Shutterstock, 4045
Have you ever imagined boarding a train in Helsinki and, just over five hours later, stepping off in Berlin—no airport queues, no lengthy check-ins, just smooth, high-speed rail travel.
That’s the kind of future a Copenhagen-based think tank, 21st Europe, is working towards. Their ambitious Starline project aims to stitch together 39 major cities across Europe, from the UK to Ukraine, into something that works a bit like a continent-sized metro system.
The idea is simple on the surface: fast, frequent, reliable trains running on a unified high-speed rail network. But what they’re really proposing is a complete rethink of how we move across Europe.
Starline Project: A new vision for seamless European rail travel
Right now, travelling across the continent by train can be a logistical puzzle. Different ticketing systems, varying train quality, outdated stations—it all adds up to a less-than-smooth experience. Starline wants to change that, creating a network that feels as easy and integrated as taking the Tube in London or the Metro in Paris.
Trains would travel at 300–400 km/h, slashing journey times. Think Kyiv to Berlin in hours, not overnight. And forget about traditional first- and second-class compartments—Starline proposes zones designed for how you want to travel: quiet spaces for work, kid-friendly areas for families, even social spots to chat or relax.
The stations wouldn’t just be stopovers either. The plan is to build new hubs just outside major cities, fully connected to local transport, but also packed with restaurants, shops, galleries—even concert venues. The goal? Make the journey part of the experience.
High-speed rail: Europe’s sustainable answer to short-haul flights
But this isn’t just about comfort. Starline is also a bold pitch for the environment. With transport contributing nearly 30% of Europe’s carbon emissions, getting people off planes and onto trains could be a game-changer. High-speed trains emit up to 90% less CO2 than short-haul flights.
Countries like France and Austria are already limiting short flights where a rail option exists. But 21st Europe says a bigger, more joined-up approach is needed. They believe Starline could be Europe’s best shot at hitting its 2050 net-zero targets, without compromising speed or accessibility.
How Europe’s Starline rail could become a reality
Rather than reinventing the wheel, Starline would be publicly funded and operated through a franchise model. National train companies would run the routes, but under the guidance of a proposed European Rail Authority—a body tasked with setting standards, coordinating schedules, and making sure the whole thing runs like clockwork.
From shared technical rules to common training for staff, the plan is all about consistency. Whether you’re boarding in Spain or Slovakia, the experience would feel familiar, fast and reliable.
Is it ambitious? Absolutely. But with pressure mounting to modernise travel and cut emissions, Starline’s vision feels less like a fantasy and more like something Europe might just need. If the stars align, you could be zipping across the continent on a sleek, blue Starline train by 2040.
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