These illustrations show the departure ceremony of the Connecting Europe Express at Lisbon Oriente Station, Portugal. The Connecting Europe Express is one of the European Year of Rail 2021’s most emblematic initiatives. It will travel across the EU and stop in most European capitals to promote the many benefits of rail - for passengers, freight and the environment. The project will also raise awareness of the importance of financing sustainable infrastructure such as rail, and EU support for such investment, including through the new Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).