Brussels, 18/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - According to a Eurobarometer survey, 58% of Europeans are satisfied with rail services in their country or more specifically: 41% with their punctuality, 59% with their frequency, 78% with ticket services and 37% with access to rail services. This would suggest, however, that there is still room for substantial improvement. These figures were released last week, coinciding with an important parliamentary committee vote on European rail reform and with the announcement of €1 billion in investment in rail research and innovation (Shift2Rail, see EUROPE 10985). These EU-level measures aim to bring improvements to rail services. However, the Eurobarometer survey reveals that only 35% of Europeans regularly take the train, despite 83% of them living just 30 minutes or less from a railway station. European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas thinks that this figure is too low and stated that “we need to make rail travel more attractive, and this study has shown us very clearly where action is needed. For example, it is unacceptable that it is so complicated in some countries to buy train tickets. Opting for a train needs to be as quick and easy as getting the car out of the garage”. (MD/transl.fl)