In January 2015, the European Commission announced it had identified the infrastructure priorities and required investments by 2030 for the TEN-T European network. The nine studies published by EC show that infrastructure development would require a financing of EUR 700 Billion. Studies include the preliminary lists of projects aimed at filling in missing links (cross-border and more), the elimination of the network agglomeration, the interconnection of transport modes and the optimization of interoperability, especially for railway traffic. The outcome of the studies will be considered when the allocation of financing for 2014-2020 will be decided within the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). To carry out railway projects, in 2014 and 2015, the Innovation and Network Executive Agency (INEA) announced the financing of several projects, most of which due at the end of 2015.
Cross-border rail links
One of the cross-border projects to have received EU financing is the railway connection between France and Italy. To develop studies aimed at optimising the cross-border connection of 74 km between Mandelieu (France) and Ventimiglia (Italy), EU allocated EUR 2.3 Million (50%) of the total EUR 4.75 Million. The railway is very used by commuters and tourists, especially by those travelling to Monaco. This project will require the elaboration of the optimisation studies of the cross-border railway services on this railway.
Another project which received a financing of EUR 400,000 includes the development of the technical studies to improve the infrastructure in Portugal and Spain, the total cost being of EUR 800,000. The project refers to the multimodal corridors which connect the two countries, but which also provide connections to the other EU countries. Thus, a technical regulation study on the catenary, the electro-magnetic compatibility, the signalling system and the railway will have to be elaborated. The standards will set the parameters and the regulations that will assist the preparation of design works for the construction of an interoperable infrastructure.
For the preparation of studies on the high-speed line Dresden (Germany) – Prague (Czech Republic), through the TEN-T programme, EU allocated a co-financing of EUR 600,000 (the total estimated cost amounting to EUR 1.258 Million). The railway has the role of completing the European railway axis which links Central and South Europe from Athens to Dresden, part of the TEN-T 22 axis. The project includes the development of the preparation studies covering the Heidenau-Ústínad Labem-Litomerice cross-border section.
For an improved connection between Austria and Slovenia, EU co-financed with EUR 550,000 (of a total of EUR 1.123 Million) the elaboration of the study on the development of the railway connection between Maribor (Slovenia’s second largest city) and Šentilj (near the Austrian border) that will facilitate freight and passenger traffic between the two countries.
The projects involve the studies for the preparation of the modernisation works of the existing line and the construction of the double line.
The two countries have also received a co-financing of EUR 1.6 Million (of the total EUR 3.1 Million) to install ERTMS on locomotives.
The 13 locomotives to be equipped with ERTMS pertain to four operators from the two countries and, after the finalisation of the project, the vehicles will be able to operate on networks equipped with ERTMS (L1 and L2) from Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Switzerland.
EU has allocated EUR 1 Million of the total cost of EUR 2.25 Million for the elaboration of the studies on the improvement and the extension of freight railway network that links Portugal, Spain, France and Germany. It is the Railway Corridor 4 for which marketing and technical studies on the management and operation of the freight transport railway and on the preparation of the extension to Germany have been elaborated.
Important national projects
Austria
EUR 850,000 is the EU co-financing (of EUR 1.71 Million) on the elaboration of studies for the Port of Linz on the extension of its capacity. Studies consist in planning and designing the extension of a tri-modal terminal within the Port of Linz and imply the elaboration of the port’s development plan, details on the development of the port’s rail stations and initiation of works.
In January 2015, EU announced a EUR 6 Million co-financing for two projects that include the preparation studies for the construction of the double railway between Linz and Wels, and Salzburg and Steindorf/Straβwalchen to increase the capacity and optimise traffic flow efficiency. The partially finalised works will improve the efficiency of the railway for freight transport and high-speed (passenger) transport. According to simulations, an additional double railway is absolutely necessary on these sections to meet traffic demands.
Linz-Wels:the project is part of the Priority Axis 17 and the objective is to permit the continuous operation of four railways for traffic on the Salzburg-Vienna route. This project is in the phase of the elaboration of studies for the construction of a new double line between Linz and Wels that will integrate the Blue Danube Airport in Linz to promote intermodality. Investments co-financed by the EU with EUR 3.96 Million have a total value of EUR 7.92 Million.
Salzburg andSteindorf/Straβwalchen: studies on this project include the construction of a double railway between Salzburg and Steindorf/Straßwalchen to complete the existing double line. It consists in the preparation of documents for evaluating the environmental impact and the geological prospecting required for the construction phase. EU co-financing amounts to EUR 2.193 Million of the total cost of EUR 4.387 Million.
Poland
At the end of 2014, EU announced the allocation of a co-financing of EUR 600,000 to studies on the construction of a new railway between Wrocław Airport and the city centre. Once commissioned, this line will significantly increase air traffic and promote eco-friendly freight and passenger transport from and to the airport. Studies include the elaboration of the environment documents, the construction and execution of the design and the preparation of financial and quality procedures. The cost of these studies amounts to EUR 1.22 Million, of which the EU co-financing amounts to 50%.
Apart from this financing, in January, the Commission for Regional Policy announced the allocation of several financing for railway projects and urban transport. In 2007-2013, Poland received EUR 67 Billion within the cohesion policy. For 2014-2020, the amount stands at EUR 77.6 Billion.
EU co-financed the rehabilitation of n°272 railway from Kluczbork to Poznań Główny on the Kluczbork – Ostrzeszów section with EUR 37 Million. The railway provides connection between Opolskieand Wielkopolskie regions and will be upgraded on 60 km. The project will reduce the travel time and will provide a comfortable transport service. Necessary investments amount to EUR 65 Million.
Using the Cohesion Fund, the Commission for Regional Policy has announced the allocation of EUR 293 Million for the sustainable transport projects in 2 cities: Warsaw, Łódź, Szczecin and Poznań. Investments are aimed at sustainably modernising the transport systems. All projects are financed through Poland’s operational programme “Infrastructure and Environment”. “I welcome the adoption of these projects, which contributes to improving the mobility of the Polish citizens, ensuring safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly travel conditions. Infrastructure development projects in the biggest Polish cities Warsaw, Łódź, Szczecin and Poznań will boost competitiveness and strengthen the economy in the whole country, ”Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu said.
Thus, the Cohesion Fund will finance the acquisition of 85 new trams to be put into service in Warsaw. Of the total EUR 141 Million, EU will allocate EUR 91.7 Million. With this investment, as of 2016, 1.8 million citizens will benefit from a modern transport system.
For the acquisition of 20 new double-decked wagons, 2 new control wagons and 2 new “push-pull” electric locomotives to operate on the lines in Warsaw’s metropolitan area, EU will allocate EUR 41 Million. The total cost of the project is EUR 51.3 Million.
A financing of EUR 85.8 Million has been allocated for Łódź for the project of a multimodal hub from Łódź Fabryczna station. The project includes the construction and modernisation of the tram lines and of the stop stations on these lines and the development of a hub for tram, train and automotive vehicles, including the construction of a Park&Ride and road access to the hub. The total cost of the project is of EUR 110.8 Million.
Szczecin will implement the project for the construction and reconstruction of the tram infrastructure which involves the modernisation of the sections in the western districts of the city and the modernisation of Pogodno depot to adapt it to low-floor trams. The total cost of the project is of EUR 52.2 Million, of which a financing of EUR 41.7 Million will be granted through the Cohesion Fund.
The project on the rehabilitation of Poznań public transport infrastructure, phase I and phase II, includes the modernisation of 5.31 km of tram and trolleybus line along the Grunwaldzka street and of the lines linking the stadium to the city centre and to the airport. The EU financing is of EUR 33.2 Million of the total cost of EUR 52.3 Million.
Hungary
As part of the Cohesion Fund, the Commission for Regional Policy announced in January the approval of the EUR 220 Million financing for the modernisation of rolling stock and the acquisition of 42 trains to be put into operation on the regional lines of Hungary. The project will significantly improve the quality, reliability and predictability of the transport service and will significantly shift road traffic to railways. The project should be completed by the end of 2015. “This investment is a good example of how regional policy can contribute to modernising rail transport while ensuring safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly travel conditions, thus improving travel conditions for passengers,” Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu said. The new vehicles will operate on the suburban and regional lines that provide connection from Budapest to Esztergom, Veresegyház and Vác, to Vác and Szob, to Monor and Cegléd, to Székesfehérvár, and to Pusztaszabolcs. The vehicles will be low-floor and will enable the access of disabled people. They will be fitted with air-conditioning, passenger information systems and wireless internet.
The investment is supplied through the “Transport” programme of the priority axis “optimisation of urban and suburban public transport, eco-friendly development”. EU will allocate a co-financing of EUR 221 Million of the total cost of EUR 260 Million.
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