“Starting 2006, the number of railway infrastructure projects increased, including the investment level. But, comparing with road transport, there is a difference relating to projects’ delivery. This because major land transport investment is allotted to roads, and the governments elaborate strategies and plans for this mode of transport. In addition, it is also about the investment ratio. Road investments massively dominate. To increase rail investment, we must collaborate and ask European Union to financially support railway projects,” Libor Lochman, Executive Director at CER said, during Railway Days Summit, organised by Club Feroviar and the Romanian Railway Industry Association – AIF, on 16 – 17 October in Bucharest.
For infrastructure projects EU budget commitment remains for CEF 2021-2027. Under the next CEF, the EC proposed EUR 42.3 billion, of which the major part, of EUR 30.6 billion, is provided to transport network, the rest of the budget is supporting energy (EUR 8.7 billion) and digital (EUR 3 billion) sectors. A EUR 11.28 billion investment is allotted under transport cohesion policy and EUR 6.5 billion will support the civilian-military dual use transport infrastructure.
“Overall, EU funds should, at least, support railway infrastructure at the same level with the currently CEF. But, the governments must submit their strategies and projects if they want to receive more EU funds. If they will not ask for European financing and will not send eligible projects, they will lose the funds and the infrastructure will face massive challenges. In addition, when we have money, we must intensively think and plan the investment,” Lochman said.
According to CER, 60% of the future transport budget, or EUR 14.5 billion, will be spend on heavy transport infrastructure, for all transport modes, which also includes railways and signalling systems. This investment ratio will support efficient and interconnected networks, which include main infrastructure components, Core network and specific sections on comprehensive network. In addition, for smart, sustainable, inclusive, safe and secure mobility, EUR 9.6 billion, representing 40% of the general and cohesion envelopes are provided. This includes smart systems such as SESAR, ERTMS, ITS, safety, alternative fuels, multimodality, MoS, all core and comprehensive network.
In addition, for adapting the TEN-T to military mobility requirements, the EUR 6.5 billion defence envelope will be available. Under this policy, specific sections will be upgraded to answer capacity needs involving all core and comprehensive network.
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