The Connecting Europe Express, a special train put together as part of the European Year of Rail 2021, pulled out of Lisbon train station on 2 September. It stopped in Belgrade on 13 September and in Skopje on 14 September. The train is scheduled to visit more than 100 towns and cities during its five-week journey, before arriving in Paris on 7 October. By setting off from Lisbon and ending in Paris, with a notable stop in Ljubljana, the train connects the Portuguese, Slovenian and French Presidencies of the Council of the EU.

Along the route, events are planned to welcome the train at railway stations across Europe. Rail enthusiasts can also follow debates happening on board as well as conferences on EU infrastructure policy and the role of the Trans-European Transport Network that will be livestreamed from Lisbon, Bucharest, Berlin and Bettembourg via an event website.

The Connecting Europe Express is the result of unique cooperation between the European Commission, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies, European rail operators, infrastructure managers and numerous other partners at EU and local level.