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1957 to 1987: At 200 km / h in air-conditioned first-class wagons through Europe
Photo: Rolls Press / Popperfoto / Getty Images
Those who are nostalgic about the train will remember times long past - and everyone who also travels across borders by train should be happy: The once legendary Trans-Europ-Express (TEE) could come back.
At least that is what Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) wants to initiate on Monday at the EU Transport Ministers' Conference.
This could make rail travel over long distances within Europe more attractive.
The system had been around for 30 years, it was discontinued in 1987. The sets used consisted exclusively of air-conditioned first-class wagons, speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour were possible on upgraded routes.
The trains of the various European railway companies were painted uniformly in wine red and beige.
TEE connections existed between the states of the European Economic Community as well as Austria and Switzerland.
They were replaced by the not so comfortable Eurocity.
Night trains are also to be integrated
The chances are good that the TEE concept could take off again.
On the one hand, this is due to the positive political signs: In times of climate change, short flights are no longer welcome.
On the other hand, many European countries agree that rail traffic needs to be better coordinated.
So it is not surprising that positive signals are being sent to Berlin from various EU member states.
Scheuer's ministry said that the concept "wanted to better link European train connections with each other." The new plans were based on the work on the future national regular schedule, the Deutschlandtakt.
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Historic picture: TEE train in Frankfurt am Main
Photo: Kurt Zarski / picture-alliance / dpa
Incidentally, the trademark rights for the name Trans-Europ-Express are held by Deutsche Bahn - they are also involved in current considerations, according to the ministry.
It is likely that night trains would also be integrated into the system.
In other countries this is also the case for long stretches.
In China, for example, there have long been high-speed night transports with sleeping compartments - every night half a dozen trains run between the metropolises of Beijing and Shanghai.
A new TEE network could be created in two steps.
For example, connections between Paris and Warsaw via Brussels, Cologne and Berlin would be possible in the short term.
A connection from Amsterdam via Cologne and Basel to Rome should also be part of the start, as well as a route from Berlin via France to Barcelona.
In a second step, Stockholm could be linked to Munich or Berlin to Rome.
In the Ministry of Transport it is said that large trans-European infrastructure projects are necessary for further expansion - such as the fixed Fehmarnbelt link.
Technically, two train types could play a role for the new TEE project.
Experts see the French TGV Euroduplex or the Velaro MS from Siemens, a series of the ICE, as promising candidates.
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