High-speed rail (HSR) is gaining increasing attention due to its sustainability and transport capacity, aligning with ambitious European transport goals for 2030 and 2050. Despite its potential, the creation of a unified European HSR network faces challenges rooted in poor coordination and national interests. This study addresses the absence of a comprehensive, long-term strategy for establishing such a network, with a specific focus on critical infrastructure development. It introduces an iterative network growth model to determine where, when, and at what cost HSR infrastructure should be built under centralized decision-making processes given current budget allocations. The approach analyses the dynamic interaction between infrastructure expansion and the long-distance transport market demand distribution. Results emphasize the benefits of adopting centralized decision-making and appraisal processes, highlighting that achieving these goals requires a comprehensive, collaborative effort, as well as a proper European institutional investment management with more spending power.