Intelligent Transport Systems Among Priorities For EU Transport Network

The European Commission is developing a trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) with the aim of connecting all corners of the continent and optimising the use of infrastructure.

This will involve the use of EU-wide intelligent transport systems, efficient management and the promotion of future-oriented clean transport solutions.

TEN-T will be backed up by a new financing instrument, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), to support its development.

Last week the Commission published nine studies on the state of play and the development needs of the TEN-T core network corridors, identifying infrastructure development needs which represent approximately €700 billion of financial investment through to 2030. This is the first time that tens of thousands kilometres of rail, road, inland waterway connections, ports, airports and other transport terminals have been studied in such a comprehensive way and with a common methodology, the Commission said.

For each Trans-European Transport corridor, a team of external experts undertook a comprehensive study. They analysed the current infrastructure status, located problems hampering traffic flows for passengers and freight, and identified action necessary between now and 2030. Recommendations include projects to complete cross-border and other missing links, remove bottlenecks, establish inter-connecting transport modes and enhance interoperability – notably for railway traffic.

A transport policy adopted by the European Union in 2014 aims to promote and strengthen seamless transport chains for passengers and freight, while keeping up with future technological trends. According to the Commission, this is vital for Europe to re-boost its economy and to generate new jobs.