TEN-T Road and Rail Network Development in Western Balkans and its future sustainability

Abstract

The regional cooperation, established within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is based in two main pillars: development of the Indicative Extension of TEN-T Core and Comprehensive Networks in the Western Balkans and establishing efficient transport systems. Since 2004 until 2016, total amount of € 13.5 billion has been invested in Comprehensive and Core Networks. The region efforts to build the network is clearly shown with an increase of almost € 1 billion from 2015 to 2016. Investment in road sector prevails accounting for almost 81% of the total investment in the transport sector while investment in rail sector follow with 15% of total investments. Two key issues pressing today’s development of the road and rail network in the region are: • Lack of funding in order to build the network to the required standards; • Proper maintenance of the already build network and finding efficient ways to maintain the new infrastructure. As the region is committed to join the EU and have focused their efforts to achieve the TEN-T guidelines objective, completion of the Core Network by 2030 and Comprehensive by 2050. The trend of investments in the road sector will continue to prevail in comparison with other modes of transport. Only 38% of the Core network has been built to motorway standards, the remaining of 62% remains to be upgraded as the needs arise. Rail infrastructure network is not compliant to the TEN-T criteria, the regional railways are especially lagging behind to comply with operational speed of 100km/h, ERTMS and 740m train length. The issue of maintaining the network in order to cope with increased demand in transport of goods and people, has proved to be a challenge and will continue unless serious commitments are taken and systems for the maintenance are put in place.