EU adopts plans for enhanced trans-European transport network
The European Commission has welcomed the final adoption of a new regulation which underpins the next phase in the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T).
Trans-European Networks (TENs) cover transport, energy and telecommunications and provide a framework for infrastructure projects designed to improve connectivity and integration across member states.
The revised transport regulation significantly enhances the EU’s efforts to build a “sustainable and resilient network as the backbone of the internal market”. This includes strong incentives to promote more sustainable transport modes, advance digitalisation, and improve multimodality while addressing climate change challenges.
The revised regulation is in effect a pan-European integrated transport plan and sets new headline targets for European transport infrastructure, including:
Rail Travel Speed: By 2040, passenger railway lines on the TEN-T core and extended core network must support trains traveling at speeds of 160 km/h or faster.
Airport Connectivity: Major airports handling over 12 million passengers annually must be connected by long-distance rail, improving passenger connectivity and making rail a competitive alternative to domestic flights.
Freight Terminals: The number and capacity of transhipment terminals will be expanded to meet current and projected traffic demands. This includes accommodating 740m trains, promoting the shift to sustainable transport modes, and boosting Europe's combined transport sector.
Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans: All 432 major cities along the TEN-T network will develop sustainable urban mobility plans to promote zero and low-emission mobility.
European Maritime Space: The maritime sector will be integrated with other transport modes efficiently and sustainably. Short-sea shipping routes will be upgraded, new routes created, and maritime ports and their hinterland connections further developed.
Previously the UK’s participation in the TENs networks positioned it as an integral part of a broader European strategy aimed at “fostering economic growth, reducing regional disparities, and promoting sustainability through improved connectivity”.
As an active participant in the TEN-T network, the UK benefitted significantly including funding for upgrades to the national road and rail networks including HS1. Post-Brexit, the UK no longer directly participates and no longer, for instance, has access to EU funding for high-speed rail.
The long-term impact of Brexit on the UK's transport infrastructure development remains unclear. The UK has greater autonomy in deciding its infrastructure policies and priorities but it faces the challenge of securing adequate investment and maintaining seamless connectivity with the EU. While the UK government has launched initiatives to replace EU funding, notably the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the effectiveness and sufficiency of these measures are still being evaluated.