From Lviv – across Europe: Ukraine is included in a global rail project
The European Union has announced a significant development of rail links across the continent, which will connect the Mediterranean region from southern Spain to Ukraine.
According to the Spanish newspaper Levante, at the end of 2023, Spain, which holds the presidency of the EU Council, reached an important preliminary agreement with the European Parliament on the revision of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Regulation. This agreement defines the financing of the basic transportation network, including the historically important Mediterranean Corridor, which will now reach the border with Ukraine.
The history of the Mediterranean Corridor has begun a new chapter thanks to MEPs Inmaculada Rodriguez-Piñero and Isabel Garcia Muñoz, who introduced important amendments to the new TEN-T regulation. On their initiative, a coastal railroad was laid to Ukraine, namely Lviv, which will make the Mediterranean corridor the only route that crosses Europe from west to east. Passenger trains will move at 160 km/h, capable of crossing the borders in just 25 minutes.
“This project is quite promising for us. First of all, it requires the adoption of special laws that would create a common state railway space between Ukraine and the EU. So that our carriers can use the European railway infrastructure, and European carriers, respectively, can use ours,” says Oleksiy Kushch, financial analyst at the United Ukraine think tank.
The new regulation sets clear deadlines for the completion of TEN-T construction, stating that the core network should be ready by 2030, the extended core network by 2040, and the global network by 2050.
A nice bonus for the environment is the emphasis on railroad interoperability, electrification, and the introduction of the Ertms security system. The new regulation also provides for the creation of a European Maritime Area and the introduction of eco-incentives that will promote the development of environmentally friendly transportation technologies.
Approved in 2011, this railroad project now covers at least 10 countries, and the inclusion of Ukraine makes it the only route that runs through all of Eastern and Western Europe. However, the new destinations caused some surprise, as some popular locations such as Malaga and Marbella were excluded from the route.
Oleksiy Kushch also adds: “We need to create so-called transport hubs so that our railroad can switch to the European gauge standard. Ideally, such a hub should be created in Lviv region. Accordingly, this hub should become a kind of link between our railroad and the European one.”
The route will start from the southern coast of Spain, passing through Almeria, Granada and Antequera, and end in Lviv. According to Spanish Minister of Transport Oscar Puente, the agreement on the new rail corridor is a key milestone in the development of the European Union. He emphasized that this will not only strengthen the unity of the EU but also stimulate economic growth.
The new corridor, which will combine the initiatives of Spain and the EU, is a step towards improving transport integration in Europe and will facilitate efficient mobility and trade between EU countries. Despite some challenges, the project has the potential to become a successful initiative.
As previously reported by We-Ukraine, Ukrzaliznytsia announced the launch of a new route to the Austrian and Hungarian capitals of Vienna and Budapest. It is scheduled to start on December 10, the transport company informs.
“As early as December 10, a new direct train No. 143/146 Vienna – Chop – Vienna will start running, which will be “tied up” at the Chop station for a convenient transfer to a group of sleeping cars from Kyiv (via Lviv) for passengers who are changing trains. Moreover, the connection to Vienna will now be convenient for passengers of the flight #367/368 Lutsk – Rivne – Chop – Uzhhorod,” the statement reads.
