The European Parliament voted on Tuesday, 20 October, recommendations for a high-speed rail network. 558 in favour, 23 against, 73 abstentions. The report is an own-initiative text. It is not a law and not a network already built.

MEPs want fast trains to link not only capitals, but large cities in every region and strategic neighbours. Either by direct services or by feeders to existing lines. They also ask for TEN-T to be finished, and for missing links, including at borders, to be named. Mediafax headlined “high-speed trains across Europe and cheaper tickets”. That is a negotiating brief, not today’s timetable.

On tickets, the EP asks for more affordable fares, discounts, season tickets and prices that can be compared. The Commission has put forward a package to make offers comparable; it is still under review. There is no single fare voted yesterday.

On money, MEPs want dedicated funds in the 2028-2034 financial framework and a stronger Connecting Europe Facility. Since 2014 more than €100 billion from EU programmes has gone to rail projects. That figure is history, not a new transfer.

Rapporteur Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Greens/EFA, says a fast link between the main cities would shift passengers from plane to train. He warns not to cut regional and commuter services. In November 2025 the Commission set an action plan with a 2040 horizon. Tuesday’s recommendations ask for that plan to be sped up, not declared done.

Recommendations. The 2040 network is not on the rails.

Image: David Gubler, TGV Duplex on the Cize-Bolozon viaduct, 22 April 2011, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; a train in France, not a photograph of the 20 October 2026 vote.

Sources consulted: High-speed trains across Europe and cheaper tickets - Mediafax, 21 October 2026; Boosting high-speed rail to enhance EU cohesion and competitiveness - European Parliament, 20 October 2026.