The fundamental principles of free movement of goods and people are vital to the economic development of Europe. The common internal market is at the heart of the European Union. As a high-speed rail link, the “Main Line for Europe” not only connects the metropolises Paris – Strasbourg – Stuttgart – Munich – Vienna – Bratislava/Budapest, but also links important economic areas with each other, thus forming the artery in European east-west traffic.

Starting around 1890, the famous Orient Express provided a continuous connection between Paris, southern Germany, Vienna and Budapest with destinations as far as Constantinople/Istanbul. Today, the “Main Line” is the most important link in Europe’s east-west rail traffic. Its catchment area in France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary is home to 35 million inhabitants and 16 million employees. In order to meet people’s mobility requirements, the initiative has been working for 30 years to create attractive, cross-border rail connections on the former Orient Express line.

As a transnational alliance for the Paris-Budapest/Bratislava high-speed rail link, the members of the “Main Line for Europe” initiative are making a decisive contribution to the process of European integration through their commitment. By this, the activities of the initiative not only strengthen a united Europe, but also contribute directly to securing peace, increasing economic prosperity, growth and progress in the European Union.