The European Rail Supply Industry Association UNIFE has urged Cyprus to restore railway services for the first time in more than seven decades. According to industry representatives, the catalyst for this initiative is the Council of the European Union presidency of the Cyprus, which opens a unique political window of opportunity to launch strategic transport projects.
UNIFE stressed that Cyprus could begin bringing trains back as early as the planning stage, ending a period that has lasted since 1951, when all passenger and freight rail services on the island were discontinued. The revival of railways is seen not only as a national project, but also as a contribution to the future of Europe’s transport system, based on EU standards and technologies developed by European companies.
EU Council Presidency as a Starting Point
According to the association, Cyprus’s six-month term at the helm of the EU Council could serve as a springboard for broader changes in transport policy—both in launching national infrastructure projects and in influencing EU-wide decision-making. In particular, UNIFE is calling on Nicosia to take an active role in discussions on amendments to the EU public procurement directive, consultations on which run until 26 January.
Industry experts believe Cyprus could use its presidency to strengthen safety requirements for EU transport networks and to promote the use of railway products manufactured exclusively within the European Union. Special emphasis is also placed on accelerating the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), which ensures interoperability and signaling safety across Europe’s key rail corridors.
Civil and Military Mobility in Focus
UNIFE highlights that modernizing railway standards is crucial not only for civilian transport, but also for military logistics. In this context, particular importance is attached to the European Commission’s military mobility package presented in November. It aims to simplify cross-border movement of military forces within the EU and to upgrade transport corridors to make them more resilient and efficient.
The European Commission has already described these measures as a step toward creating a kind of “military Schengen.” Harmonizing railway standards under this package is considered a critical element for the fast and secure transport of both civilian and military cargo.
Support at the European Commission Level
UNIFE’s call comes amid recent remarks by the EU Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, who noted that the idea of building a new railway line in Cyprus deserves serious consideration. According to him, a route linking Larnaca Airport, Limassol, and Nicosia would represent a significant step forward for the island’s transport infrastructure.
The commissioner emphasized that the European Commission is ready to consider providing financial support for such a project and added that Cyprus’s EU Council presidency could be the right moment to begin substantive dialogue on bringing trains back to the island.
Cyprus Without Trains: Historical Background
Cyprus has been without railways since 1951, when the British colonial authorities shut down the last section of the Cyprus Government Railway. Opened in 1905, the line between 1915 and 1932 connected the village of Evrychou in the Troodos mountains with the port of Famagusta, passing through Morphou and Nicosia. It played an important role in transporting goods, timber, ore, and minerals, but never became profitable. The last train departed from Nicosia to Famagusta on 31 December 1951, and the railway infrastructure was dismantled in 1952–1953.
Looking Ahead
The idea of building a new railway in Cyprus is not new. As early as 2022, then Minister of Transport Yiannis Karousos stated that the necessary studies already existed and that substantial preparatory work had been done. According to him, a railway could link the island’s main cities and the airport, while also reducing pressure on the road network.
Today, against the backdrop of EU climate goals, growing interest in sustainable transport, and new geopolitical realities, the return of trains to Cyprus is once again on the agenda—no longer as a utopian idea, but as a long-term infrastructure project with a clear European dimension.