Europe spent more on roads than rail in the last 25 years: These 10 countries bucked the trend

Europe’s rail network has dramatically declined over the past three decades, new research has warned, while investment in roads has soared.

But with the funding gap between the two narrowing, could there be a light at the end of the (previously shuttered) tunnel?

The length of motorways in Europe grew 60 per cent between 1995 and 2020, or 30,000km, according to research conducted by German thinktanks Wuppertal Institute and T3 Transportation and commissioned by Greenpeace.

Meanwhile, railways shrank by 6.5 per cent, or 15,650km, and more than 2,500 railway stations were closed.

The figures expose how governments prioritise cars over rail, warned Greenpeace EU senior climate campaigner Lorelei Limousin.

“Millions of people outside cities have no option but to own a car to get to work, take kids to school or access basic services, living in areas with little or no public transport,” she said.

“This is a direct result of governments dismantling local and regional rail networks while pouring money into roads.”

However, there is a slight silver lining to the sobering research: the funding gap is narrowing.

Between 1995 and 2018, European countries spent 66 per cent more on roads than railways. During the years 2018-2021, European countries spent 34 per cent more on extending roads than on extending railways.

Nonetheless, the disparity is still jarring, Limousin commented.

“Governments and the EU must hit the brakes on this dismantling of our train lines, reopen disused tracks and invest in rail – and stop the massive subsidies for roads that wreck the climate, pollute the air and make people’s lives miserable,” she said.

Trains are one of the most eco-friendly ways of getting around. Cars, vans and trucks are responsible for 72 per cent