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Implementation of the new TEN-T Regulation from an intermodal rail freight perspective
The European Combined Transport Community applauded the adoption of the revised TEN-T Guidelines Regulation (Regulation 2024/1679)[1] as it is seen as suitable to resolving the heterogeneity and other shortcomings of the Single European Railway Area’s infrastructure network.
Executive summary
Focusing on the infrastructure needs of “doubling the share of rail freight”, as contained in the Strategy for Smart and Sustainable Mobility, the infrastructure of the Single European Railway Area will need to be modernised and harmonised pursuant to the technical parameters contained in the revised TEN-T Guidelines Regulation.
Intermodal rail freight is the most dynamically growing production system of rail freight. Satisfying the particular needs of intermodal users is therefore of the utmost importance. The European legislator rightfully recognised that operational standards must be kept in mind when designing the infrastructure modernisation projects. Two key performance indicators (KPIs) were included in the regulation on (i) the expected punctuality performance of cross-border freight trains and (ii) on the time needed to fulfil the technical border crossing requirements on internal EU borders – when crossing from one country’s network onto another.
Transhipment terminals, which are the gateways for freight to access the infrastructure, have for the first time been recognised in the revised TEN-T Guidelines Regulation. The access routes and last-mile railway sections, as well as the infrastructure of the terminal will need upgrading to perform the same functions and to deliver the same standardised services throughout the entire network.
The financing capability of EU Member States and the capacity of ongoing railway transport operations to absorb the disruptions caused by infrastructure works are both limited. Therefore, it is essential for the intermodal rail freight community to formulate and then to convey its infrastructure priorities to the Member State decisionmakers.
Operating over 80% of cross-border freight trains, the largest share within cross-border rail transport activities in Europe, the advice of the intermodal rail freight stakeholders is valuable from the perspective of planning and governance. Having been the prime customers of European Rail Freight Corridors over the 12 years of their history, intermodal freight transporters have ample experience to share with the Member State governments put in charge of implementing the TEN-T Regulation.
This paper contains recommendations on every aspect of the TEN-T Regulation relevant to a cross-border freight train operator with the exception of transhipment terminals, which has been addressed in a sister-paper[2] to this one.
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[1] https://www.uirr.com/sites/default/files/documents/TEN-T.Reg_Implementation-terminals_January.2026.pdf