Priority axis No 24 – Ongoing

Railway axis Lyons/Genoa–Basle– Duisburg–Rotterdam/ Developing a rail axis through Europe’s economic core from the North Sea to the Mediterranean will help rebalance the modal split in one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in Europe. While also important for passenger transport, the long-term goal is the development of a rail-freight corridor with dedicated rail-freight lines.

What is the axis? What is its current status?

This axis is of major importance for north–south traffic, linking All the domestic sections have been incorporated in the the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp with that of Genoa.The respective national plans. Moreover, an Association of Chambers focus is on the Rotterdam–Genoa link, but there is also a western of Commerce for the Genoa–Rotterdam railway axis has been set branch linking Mulhouse–Dijon–Lyons.Work includes the up to promote the axis for rail freight.The transport ministries of construction of new high-speed lines (300 km/h) in France Italy, Switzerland, and the have set up a (southern and eastern branches of the ‘TGV Rhin-Rhône’), and in specific working group with the same aim. Germany (Karlsruhe–Basle and Frankfurt airport–Mannheim). The ‘Iron Rhine’ line is the subject of a trilateral agreement Existing lines will be upgraded to enhance their freight capacity, between Germany, the Netherlands and . In addition, including connecting the Betuwe line (see axis No 5) to the Belgium and the Netherlands have agreed specific arrangements German network, the line from Lyons to Müllheim, and the lines for the section crossing Dutch territory, covering both from the port of Genoa to the rail crossings of Switzerland. specifications and the sharing of costs. Furthermore, a new dedicated freight line (the ‘Iron Rhine’) will be built from Antwerp port to the German network. All the Upgrading work from the Dutch–German border to Duisburg will sections concern lines with between two and four tracks. link up with the Betuwe line (to Rotterdam). Upgrades on the Duisburg–Emmerich section will be finalised in 2015. The Rhine–Rhône high-speed line in France comprises three What are its expected benefits? branches totalling 425 km, of which two are part of this priority axis.The 189 km eastern branch (Dijon–Mulhouse) is the more The project will help promote a significant modal shift for both advanced with work due to be carried out between 2006 and freight and passengers.The different sections will remove several 2011. Preliminary studies for the southern branch billion tonne-kilometres of freight from the roads every year, and (Dijon–Mâcon–Lyons) are currently under way, in particular hundreds of millions of passenger-kilometres from the road and examining the potential for a mixed passenger-freight line. air. It will contribute to improving air–rail passenger inter- A working group is studying options for the Rhine crossing on modality and rail–sea freight intermodality, by linking to airports the Müllheim–Mulhouse section.The Basle–Karlsruhe section will and several of Europe’s biggest sea ports. be upgraded from two to four tracks for high-speed running, and should be finished in 2015. Access lines to Switzerland have already been agreed in the EU–Switzerland transport agreement.The new Gotthard base tunnel (on the eastern branch to Milan) is planned to be finished in 2013.The Lötschberg base tunnel (on the western branch) is due to open in 2007, and will increase transit capacity from 55 to 110 trains a day. Initially, capacity limitations on the Italian side will restrict traffic to 90 trains per day. Capacity increases are planned through the upgrading of existing lines and the construction of a new line between Genoa and the south of Milan, due to be finished by 2013. TEN-T PRIORITY AXES AND PROJECTS 2005

Priority section Type of work/status Distance Timetable (1) Total cost as Investment up TEN-T contribution, (km) of end 2004 to 31.12.2004 including studies, up to (million EUR) (million EUR) 31.12.2004 (million EUR)

Lyons–Mulhouse– New line/upgrading 389 2006–18 4 580 1.5 0 Müllheim, with bridge Mulhouse–Müllheim as cross-border section

Genoa–Milan/Novara New line/upgrading 297 2005–13 10 313 0 0 –Swiss border

Basle–Karlsruhe Upgrading/new line 193 1987–2015 4 256 1448 18.5

Frankfurt–Mannheim New line 75 2010–15 (2012)(2) 1 771 0 0

Duisburg– Upgrading 73 1997–2015 1 254 61.4 0 Emmerich (2009) (2)

‘Iron Rhine’ Upgrading 214 2004–10 550 0 0 (Rheidt–Antwerp)

TOTAL 1 241 22 724 1 510.9 18.5

(1) In brackets, completion date listed in the 2004 guidelines, if different from the date notified in 2005 by the Member State. (2) Delayed due to general budget reductions for transport infrastructure in Germany.

Priority section Other priority axes

Rail in preparation Motorway of the sea under construction Road completed Rail Inland waterway Airport 13 6

8

30

21

10

15

58 59