On 27 September, Jill Warren, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), joined the Connecting Europe Express from Zürich to Bern. Bringing her bicycle aboard, Warren emphasised the need for European rail services to ensure cohesive compatibility between bicycles and trains, a stance ECF has been strongly promoting for decades.

Part of the European Commission’s European Year of Rail campaign, the Connecting Europe Express departed Lisbon on 2 September and is due to arrive in Paris on 7 October, having traversed 26 different countries on its cross-continental voyage. Recognising the trip as an ideal opportunity to promote multimodal bicycle-to-rail travel, Warren joined other high-level passengers in Switzerland, including Federal Councillor and Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications Simonetta Sommaruga, Swiss Railways CEO Vincent Ducrot, European Commission DG MOVE Director Herald Ruijters and Executive Director of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) Alberto Mazzola.

Warren presented both Sommaruga and Ducrot with a copy of ECF’s recent “Cyclists love trains” report, an in-depth analysis of the bicycle friendliness of European railway operators. The report aims to guide industry and policymakers in identifying ways to improve the combination of two of the most sustainable modes of transport currently available to travellers: bikes and trains.

Despite Swiss Railways scoring comparatively well in the report and finishing second in the overall ranking for bike friendliness in Europe, there is still room for improvement. This is true for practically all of the railway undertakings analysed, and it is in this sense that the report provides unprecedented and unrivalled advice and guidance to improve the multimodality aspect of the continent’s train services.

Warren’s determined advocacy aboard the Connecting Europe Express builds on from previous accomplishments achieved by ECF, having successfully lobbied for a recast of the Rail Passengers’ Rights and Obligations Regulation in 2020. The rigorous Trains For Cyclists campaign proved to be a major breakthrough for multimodal travel in Europe, ensuring better accommodation for bicycles on trains. As a result of ECF’s tireless efforts, all European railway companies will be obliged to provide at least four dedicated spaces for bicycles on all new and refurbished trains from 2025.

“At ECF, we know that cyclists all over Europe increasingly want to take their bicycles with them on trains,” explains Warren. “No doubt such strong popular support for combined bicycle-train mobility, alongside our relentless lobbying, helped achieve the result that new and refurbished trains will be obliged to include a minimum of four dedicated spaces for assembled bicycles. Obviously, we’d all like to see a higher number of dedicated spaces for bikes, but this obligation is a first in EU history."

With 2021 branded as the European Year of Rail by the Commission, there has never been a better time to highlight the need for and the benefits of multimodal, sustainable travel. As said by Warren, “there is no conceivable way to achieve the sustainable development goals, the European Green Deal or climate-neutral cities without significantly more cycling.”

Though this statement holds true for all forms of development, it is particularly relevant to transport, which accounts for almost a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in cities. It is in this sense that ECF supports campaigns and events such as the European Year of Rail and the Connecting Europe Express, while also insisting that cycling must play a significant role in such efforts.

As the flagship Connecting Europe Express continues to trace the routes that bind Europe together, its primary aim is to showcase the unifying force of rail, whilst helping people understand the challenges facing the European rail industry. In order to overcome these challenges and become a primary mode of choice for passengers and businesses alike, rail services must pay attention and adhere to the demands and needs of their passengers.

ECF’s lobbying campaign and Cyclists love trains report underline the need for better accommodation of assembled bicycles on board all European trains. Therefore, ECF will continue to advocate for this demand in our efforts to promote more sustainable multimodality in Europe, including more and better cycling for all.