European Parliament clears path for revised TEN-T guidelines 19/02/24
< ZurückAuthor: Nikos Papatolios
European Parliament clears path for revised TEN-T guidelines
In a significant move towards modernising Europe’s transportation infrastructure, the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee has embraced the compromise text on the Revision of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Guidelines. This milestone sets the stage for adoption by the European Parliament Plenary ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections, followed by anticipated approval by EU ministers.
The adoption of this compromise text marks a crucial step towards providing clarity on infrastructure developments over the next several decades. However, while acknowledging this progress, the European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) emphasises the need for continued attention to certain key points to ensure the effective implementation of these guidelines.
The pros and cons
One of the highlights of the compromise text is the introduction of clear infrastructure parameters for freight trains. ERFA particularly welcomes the provision stipulating that infrastructure should accommodate 740-meter trains with an axle load of 22.5 tonnes. With more than 50 per cent of rail freight traversing national borders, establishing European-wide infrastructure standards and ensuring consistent exemptions is imperative to maintain interoperability and the seamless functioning of the rail network.
Moreover, the inclusion of Operational Priorities within the Regulation, aiming to streamline border procedures and enhance the efficiency of freight transportation, is also deemed positive. The agreed text sets ambitious targets, including limiting dwelling times at borders to an average of 25 minutes and ensuring that at least 75 per cent of freight trains crossing borders along European Transport Corridors reach their destinations on time or with minimal delay. These measures are poised to elevate the quality of infrastructure management and foster greater reliability in freight logistics.
However, ERFA raises concerns regarding the provisions related to European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) deployment. The agreed text predominantly focuses on trackside deployment, overlooking the crucial aspect of on-board ERTMS deployment strategy. To achieve a seamless transition to ERTMS and the phasing out of class-B systems, ERFA underscores the necessity for a coherent and business-friendly strategy for on-board ERTMS deployment and financing. The onus now falls on the European Commission to address this gap in the upcoming legislative cycle.