Rhine-Alpine News
12.07.2023
European funding for Limburg inland ports
Source: Picture by RobRob on Pixabay
The European Union is providing funding for the expansion of three inland ports in Limburg: the Willem Alexander Port in Roermond, the Chemelot Port in Stein, and the Beatrix Port in Maastricht. This includes four projects totalling $76.3 million in investment, of which the EU contributes 37.4.
The projects at the various ports help to recycle raw materials and move transportation from the road onto the water. This cuts down on truck traffic and as a result, CO2 emissions. However, the initiatives also contribute to a stronger connectivity to the inland port network connecting Rotterdam and Antwerp. This ensures economic growth, job creation, and increased competitiveness for Dutch businesses.
The funding was given in response to an application to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). This fund is intended to support projects that strengthen the transport and transportation networks within the European Union. The Province of Limburg was the lead agency on behalf of Blueports’ cooperating parties in Limburg. This grant will be utilized primarily for project execution.
Source(in Dutch):
Revision of the trans-European transport network guidelines
Source: Picture by Dimitrisvetsikas1969 on Pixabay
After assessing the execution of TEN-T, the European Commission proposed amended TEN-T guidelines in December 2021 to ensure sustainable connectivity through a dependable and high-quality infrastructure network that is in accordance with the goals of the European Green Deal. The Commission released an updated version of this proposal in May 2022, expanding the proposed transportation corridors to include Ukraine and Moldova and removing plans that would have also covered Russia and Belarus.
On April 13 2023, the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament published its report on the proposal; The Council adopted its general approach on December 5 2022.
Trilogue conversations are now taking place after the EP position was approved in plenary on April 19 2023.
This represents the third Edition of the brief, Marketa Pape was the author of the first edition, which was released in March 2022. The ‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefs are updated during significant moments of the legislative process.
The full Briefing can be accessed below.
Sources:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)729314
Deutsche Bahn to refurbish 1800 train stations
Source: Picture by Moritz320 on Pixabay
By 2030, Deutsche Bahn wants to renovate one third of train stops. A requirement is that these future stations need to be upgraded to fulfil customer expectations.
There are currently about 5400 stations served by the railroad. 900 of these stations are wholly owned by the railroad.
By 2030, 1,800 stations, including those not owned by Deutsche Bahn will have undergone renovations. More than two thirds of customers would derive a benefit from these renovations. Some repairs will be made to particularly crucial lines as part of the general overhaul. Between Mannheim and Frankfurt, the first general overhaul will take place in the second half of 2024, and dozens more will follow. The railroad intends to restore everything that has to be renovated, including multiple stations in one go, after closing a crucial line for six months in preparation of a thorough overhaul.
The infrastructure needs to be upgraded and updated to modern standards, as it also plays a significant role in the lack of punctuality of trains. Additionally, according to Deutsche Bahn, the network will have a much higher capacity following the improvements and will eventually be able to accommodate more trains.
The reigning federal government coalition’s top officials estimated that Deutsche Bahn would require about 45 billion euros to satisfy its investment needs up to 2027.
Deutsche Bahn intends to spend seven billion euros on infrastructure in 2024, nine billion in 2025, and twelve billion in 2026.
Source (in German):