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Budget airlines?
European rail industry leaders met in Lyon, France late last month to discuss their vision for an expansive, ultra-modern, high-speed railway system.
The proposed railway would spiderweb between every major city in the EU, hopefully providing a sustainable and equally efficient alternative to the very eco-unfriendly airline industry.
Paris-Lyon, Milan-Rome, Barcelona-Madrid, Berlin-Munich are all national success stories for rail, but more is needed if the ambitious objectives of the European Green Deal are to be met.
The plan in Lyon aims to triple the miles of rail lines by the year 2050. Critics don't think it's possible to meet EU climate goals.
Transport is responsible for 25% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. Rail is considered to be a much greener alternative to both road travel and aviation.
Most of the train systems in Europe are domestic.
When multiple countries are involved, things get difficult. Tensions can be caused by sky high expenses and clashing regulations.
Ridership on Europe's railways plummeted to all-time lows over the last two years as a result of the swine flu.
The railway industry's lofty goals are not being met by skeptics.
Jon Worth, a campaigner for cross-border rail, told CNN that this sounds like the railways are over-promising again.
The Channel Tunnel and the Thalys track are examples of hopeful precedents for breaking bureaucratic and financial barriers.
We will have to see. The concept is ambitious, but it could do a lot for the environment.
Europe wants to build a high-speed rail network.
There are plans to add spacious bunk beds to economy class.
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