Exciting changes are on the horizon for travellers and businesses alike as new European Union regulations on the “Trans-European Transport Network“, or simply TEN-T, came into effect this week (Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) – European Commission). These updates are part of the broader TEN-T policy, a major EU initiative aimed at creating a seamless, high-quality transport infrastructure across Europe to significantly enhance Europe’s transport system’s connectivity, safety, and efficiency, making your next EU destination more accessible than ever.

Specifically, these revamped TEN-T regulations introduce several key improvements to the European transport network:

  1. Trains will now be required to travel at a minimum speed of 160 km/h, significantly reducing travel times and enhancing passenger convenience.
  2. Safe and secure parking areas will also be established every 150 kilometres, providing reliable places for drivers to stop and rest.
  3. Major airports will be connected with long-distance rail services, making transfers between flights and trains easier.
  4. Rail freight capacity will be increased to meet growing demand and support economic activity.

The policy’s primary goals include ensuring the smooth and efficient movement of people and goods, boosting trade and economic development by linking urban areas, ports, airports, and terminals, and strengthening the EU’s economic, social, and territorial cohesion. It also focuses on reducing transportation’s environmental footprint and climate impact while enhancing the network’s safety and resilience.

These new regulations align closely with the objectives of the ReMuNet project, a project in which White Research is proud to participate as Dissemination and Communication managers. ReMuNet focuses on enhancing the resilience and efficiency of multimodal transport networks within the North Sea-Baltic and Rhine–Danube corridors. The project will pilot its core concepts and functionalities in these areas, implementing and testing approaches to improve route planning and capacity allocation. For instance, it will examine how relay transport can lead to more efficient use of steering time and shorter travel distances for truck drivers while investigating potential humanitarian logistics applications and the integration of climate-friendly alternative drives, particularly in the Rhine-Danube corridor. Lastly, it plans to assess how the project’s recommendations will improve resilience, particularly for aid deliveries, such as those for Ukraine, and to explore how they can contribute to sustainability by integrating alternative drives and reducing emissions.

The alignment of the ReMuNet project with the newly updated TEN-T regulations promises to deliver transformative benefits to Europe’s transport landscape. ReMuNet will build on the advancements of the TEN-T policy to further refine multimodal transport networks within these corridors complementing TEN-T improvements, creating a more resilient, efficient, and environmentally responsible transport system. Together, these initiatives will not only streamline travel and bolster economic activity but also enhance the overall reliability and sustainability of European transport infrastructure, ensuring that it meets the needs of both today and the future.

 

 

Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)—European Commission. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2024, from https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/infrastructure-and-investment/trans-european-transport-network-ten-t_en