The Trans-European Conventional Rail Network forms, together with the Trans-European High-Speed ​​Rail Network, the Trans-European Rail Network, which in turn is one of the Trans-European Transport Networks of the European Union.

It was defined by the Council Directive "Directive (European Union Law)" 2001/16/EC of March 19, 2001.[1]​.

The objective of this Directive is to achieve technical specifications for interoperability of the European conventional railway in the various stages of design, construction and operation of the network.

The network is defined as a system that consists of a set of infrastructures, systems, fixed facilities, logistics equipment and rolling stock.

By definition of the Council's decision, the conventional railway network can be subdivided into the following categories:

This infrastructure includes traffic systems and rolling stock includes all vehicles to circulate on all or part of the conventional trans-European railway network.