Bucharest: High-speed railway? What we know and what we doubt...

Generated Title: Bucharest's Bullet Train: A Fast Track to... Nowheresville?

Okay, so the EU wants to build a high-speed rail line from Bucharest to Budapest by 2040. Cool. Only, last time I checked, 2040 is, like, forever from now. I'll probably be living in a retirement home powered by AI by then, assuming the robots haven't enslaved us all.

The "Uniting Europe" Fantasy

Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas says this is about "uniting Europeans, strengthening our economy, and leading the global race for sustainable transport." Right. Because nothing unites people like spending 15 years building a train line that might or might not actually work.

Let's be real: "uniting Europeans" is code for "funneling billions of euros into infrastructure projects that benefit politically connected construction companies." It's the EU's version of "infrastructure week," only instead of endless delays and photo ops, we get a vague promise of faster travel a decade and a half from now.

And "strengthening our economy"? How many jobs will this actually create? How much will tickets cost? Will anyone other than business travelers and EU bureaucrats be able to afford it? I'm guessing it'll be cheaper to fly, even with RyanAir's baggage fees. Give me a break.

Speed vs. Reality

They're bragging about cutting the Bucharest-Budapest trip from 14-16 hours to a little over 6. Okay, that's… significant, I guess. But have these people been to Bucharest? The roads are a disaster. The public transport is… well, let's just say it's an experience. So, they're going to spend billions on a high-speed train while the rest of the country crumbles? Seems legit.

And what about the actual experience of train travel? I'm supposed to believe I'll be relaxing and enjoying the scenery instead of crammed into a tiny seat next to a screaming baby while the train rattles along tracks that haven't been upgraded since the Cold War? Yeah, right.

Speaking of crumbling infrastructure, I'm suddenly reminded of my apartment's plumbing... It backs up every time I flush the toilet. I should probably call a plumber, but honestly, I'd rather just live in squalor than deal with the inevitable price gouging and shoddy workmanship. Maybe the EU can send some of that "uniting Europe" money my way?

The Greenwashing Express

Of course, this is all about "reducing environmental pollution." Because trains are, like, so much better for the planet than planes. Never mind the carbon footprint of building the damn thing, or the fact that they're planning on dumping billions into "clean" aviation fuel anyway. It's all just a big greenwashing exercise to make politicians feel good about themselves.

And get this: they’re allocating nearly EUR 3 billion for “clean” aviation fuel by 2027. An allocation of EUR 100 billion is expected by 2035. So, wait, are they admitting the train thing might not work? Or is this just…more…BS?

And don't even get me started on the "second-hand market for rolling stock." Because that's exactly what Europe needs: a bunch of refurbished trains from the 1970s chugging along at 200 km/h.

But hey, at least I can fly to Aleppo from Bucharest starting December 2025 on Dan Air Moves Bucharest – Aleppo Launch to Dec 2025 — AeroRoutes. That's… something, offcourse.

So, What's the Point?

Look, I'm not against progress. I'm just against empty promises and taxpayer-funded boondoggles. This whole high-speed rail thing smells like both. They expect us to believe this nonsense, and honestly...

I mean, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this will be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Maybe in 2040, I'll be zipping between Bucharest and Budapest in luxury, sipping champagne and marveling at the Romanian countryside. But let's be real: I ain't holding my breath.

It's All Just a Big Show