ty elements that control speed and can even block it to pre-vent accidents.” Or the opti-mization of capacity, total line electrification, hydrogen trains and complete automization, to oust long-distance competitors; there are also revolutions still in their infancy, such as electro-dynamic suspension, which has reached over 600 km/h, or Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Project. DESTINATION: THE WORLD MAP The aim is to extend the European lines towards Russia, China, and Asia in general, despite enormous obstacles, such as different track widths: there are more than 30 throughout the world. “It’s so important to promote ini-tiatives such as Connecting Europe Express, which tackles the problem of interoperability, and greater rail transport connectivity as the only sustainable option in the future,” maintains Muñoz. The expansion of networks in collaboration with China and Eurasia would consolidate a single rail area and provide businesses with a chance to free up goodwill and investment. “The main challenge is reaching agreements between countries to remove barriers, from track width to permits that would guarantee homogenized quality in merchandise, for example foodstuffs,” points out Muñoz. “Another technical challenge is orography, or mountain distribution, but that’s manageable, and there is political and eco-nomic will there.” For the professor, it’s essential “to turn longed-for European Funds into real competitive advantage in the rail transport industry,” as well as a much more collaborative organization model. RAILWAY Planet RAIL PLANET RAIL The new European routes: • Rhine-Alpine: The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Italy. • North Sea-Mediterranean: The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. • Scandinavia-Mediterranean: Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, and Italy. • Atlantic: Portugal, Spain, and France. • Baltic-Adriatic: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, and Slovenia. • Mediterranean: Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, and Hungary. • Orient: Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece. • North Sea-Baltic: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, and Lithuania. • Czech Republic-Slovakia: Shared by those two countries only. Some inter-continentals and the rest of the world: • In the New Silk Road, Yiwu-Madrid-Yiwu, the longest in the world. • Europa-India Route, via Russia, opened in 2021 with 32 containers sent from Finland to India. • The Asian Connection with Africa via Egypt. • Inter-connection Mexico-USA-Canada, via a network of over 42,000 kilometers. • Various integration initiatives in South America and throughout Latin America .