The Crossb Rail Project: A Path to Sustainable Transportation
In a recent presentation at Santiago de Compostella, John Worth discussed the challenges and opportunities of cross-border rail travel in Europe. As an independent communications consultant working Europe-wide for more than a decade, Worth has sought to conduct all of his journeys by train to visit his business clients. He embarked on a project called Crossb Rail to cross all of the internal borders of the European Union that can be crossed by train in a 140-day journey, including Norway and Switzerland. The project aimed to highlight the specific issues that need to be addressed to make cross-border rail travel more efficient and accessible.
The Problems at the Borders
Worth identified four main categories of problems that he encountered at the borders during his journey. These included tracks falling into disrepair, existing tracks with no passenger trains, poor timetable coordination, and ticketing issues that complicated cross-border travel.
Tracks Falling into Disrepair
In several locations, Worth found that rail lines had fallen into disrepair, making it challenging to reactivate them for passenger trains. Many of these cases presented technical and political complexities, but some were identified as potential candidates for reactivation with the necessary investment and political consensus.
For example, at the Belgian-French border between Dino and J, the lack of a functional train connection between the two towns made it evident that the rail line needed repair and reactivation to facilitate cross-border travel.
Existing Tracks with No Passenger Trains
In several instances, Worth encountered rail lines that existed but had no passenger trains operating on them. He highlighted the case of Haparanda to Tornio, where navigating the journey across the border required taking multiple buses due to the lack of a proper public transport link between the two towns.
Poor Timetable Coordination
An apparent lack of collaboration for cross-border transport was observed in the Baltic States, leading to significant gaps and inconveniences in the train timetables. Worth explained that coordinating the timetables of trains arriving at the border stations could significantly improve the connectivity and usage of cross-border rail services.
Ticketing Issues
Lastly, Worth addressed the challenges related to cross-border ticketing within Germany's border regions. He pointed out that the new flat-rate Deutschland Ticket, which works on all regional public transports in Germany, did not function effectively for cross-border travel. Issues with ticket validity and connectivity were prominent, indicating a need for improvement in cross-border ticketing policies.
The Policy Recommendations
Based on his extensive journey and research, Worth proposed several policy recommendations to address the specific issues he encountered at the borders. These recommendations aimed to streamline cross-border rail travel and make it more accessible and efficient for passengers.
Infrastructure Repair and Reactivation
Worth emphasized the need for targeted investments in repairing and reactivating rail infrastructure at the borders. He highlighted cases where the right-of-way for the reactivation of the railway still existed, indicating the potential for feasible repair projects in specific locations.
Political Consensus for Rail Projects
The importance of political consensus on both sides of the border to support rail projects was highlighted, showcasing successful cases where strong political support led to progress, such as the planned reactivation of the rail connection from Haparanda to Tornio.
Timetable Coordination and Collaboration
Worth advocated for improved collaboration among countries to coordinate train timetables at border stations. By aligning the arrival and departure times of trains, cross-border connectivity could be significantly enhanced, making rail travel more seamless and convenient for passengers.
Streamlined Cross-Border Ticketing
The need for standardized and universal cross-border ticketing systems was underscored, aiming to ensure that tickets and passes work seamlessly across borders. Worth's recommendations sought to address the inconsistencies and limitations in existing ticketing policies for cross-border rail travel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, John Worth's Crossb Rail project shed light on the challenges and opportunities of cross-border rail travel in Europe. By identifying specific issues at the borders and proposing targeted policy recommendations, Worth aimed to pave the way for more sustainable and accessible transportation options within the European Union. His insights and findings from the project provide valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to improve cross-border rail connectivity and enhance the overall passenger experience. As the European Union continues to prioritize sustainability and integrated transportation systems, addressing the complexities of cross-border rail travel is essential for promoting seamless and environmentally friendly mobility options.