Length of railway lines in use in the European Union 1990-2021
railway networks in the European Union declined. The peak was recorded in the beginning of the reporting period, with 220,757 kilometers, excluding the United Kingdom. However, by 2021, this figure had fallen to 202,596 kilometers.
As of 2021, Spain had the greatest length of high-speed rail networks in Europe. It was closely followed by France, with Germany coming in third.
Between 1990 and 2020, the total length of High-speed rail defies trend
In contrast to the overall decline in railway length, the high-speed rail network saw a prominent extension. Between 1985 and 2021, the number of kilometers available grew almost twentyfold, reaching 11,666 kilometers in 2021.As of 2021, Spain had the greatest length of high-speed rail networks in Europe. It was closely followed by France, with Germany coming in third.