Thread by @jonworth

The first conclusions from my #CrossBorderRail project are now out - 20 projects that would be comparatively simple and quick to implement that would make a positive change to international rail within 🇪🇺

This is for you @AdinaValean @Transport_EU!

Summary in the 🧵

Background on Top 20 👇
crossborderrail.trainsforeurope.eu/top20/

Detailed map of the Top 20 👇
umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossbo…

Recorded stream from the event launching the Top 20 👇


Press release 👇
crossborderrail.trainsforeurope.eu/pressemitteilu…

And now in 🧵 come the projects, alphabetical order!

Bardonecchia-Modane
🇮🇹🇫🇷

Missing Service

To do: extend Trenitalia Regionale trains from Bardonecchia to Modane (18.8km). It has to be done this way around due to the change of voltage between the French and Italian systems

Croatia-Slovenia and Croatia-Hungary
🇭🇷🇸🇮🇭🇺

Missing Services

To do: Approve SŽ’s fleet of new trains for operation in Croatia, and develop a new timetable for these cross border routes post-Schengen accession, esp. at Dobova and through Čakovec

Dresden-Görlitz-Zgorzelec
🇩🇪🇵🇱

Missing Electrification

To do: Germany needs to electrify the line between the Neiße Bridge at Görlitz and the edge of Dresden (100km) - Germany has already committed to do this, but work has not started

Figueres-Perpignan (High Speed Line)
🇪🇸🇫🇷

Underutilisation

To do: Run more trains. If state owned operators Renfe and SNCF are unwilling to do this, investigate obstacles preventing other operators offering services on this line

France-Spain
🇫🇷🇪🇸

Missing Services

France & Spain need to agree how to extend services across the border in each case (Hendaye-Irun, Cerbère-Portbou), rather than as now where most trains terminate before the border. Infra exists already, just 2km between stations in each case

France-Spain
🇫🇷🇪🇸

Missing Timetable Data

To do: Put data for all trains in Spain, regardless of operator, and including Euskotren (Hendaia-Irun Colon) and Rodalies (Latour du Carol-Puigcerdà, Cerbère-Portbou) into UIC Merits - so these trains appear in DB Reiseauskunft etc.

Hamont-Weert
🇧🇪🇳🇱

Missing Service

To do: Electrify 9.6km where wires are missing, and build an extra platform in Weert (space is available for this) to allow Belgian trains to terminate there instead of in Hamont - helps connections Antwerpen - eastern Netherlands

Liberec-Porajów-Zittau
🇨🇿🇵🇱🇩🇪

Poor Track

🇨🇿 & 🇩🇪 need to find a financial arrangement with 🇵🇱 to repair track through Porajów, and inc speeds from 40km/h to 100km/h. The land is flat, so this is neither difficult nor especially costly. Two level crossings would need upgrading

Marijampolė-Suwałki
🇱🇹🇵🇱

Poor Timetable

To do: Run at least a daily service (currently: 2x a week) between Białystok & Kaunas, and ideally also offer a daily long distance service from Warszawa to Kaunas, by extending one of the daily Warszawa – Suwałki TLK or IC trains

Marseille-Ventimiglia-Genova
🇫🇷🇮🇹

Poor Timetable

To do: Coordinate timetables of TER & Regionale trains to make sure connections are efficient at Ventimiglia (avoiding 1 hour 55 min wait, eastbound). Medium term re-introduce direct Marseille – Genova or Marseille – Milano

Nova Gorica-Gorizia
🇸🇮🇮🇹

Missing Service

To do: Slovenian railways SŽ needs to extend Jesenice – Nova Gorica trains to Gorizia Centrale, or run a simple connecting shuttle service Nova Gorica – Gorizia Centrale (7.5km)

Offenburg-Strasbourg
🇩🇪🇫🇷

Ticketing Problem

To do: List Strasbourg as a station in the Baden-Württemberg tariff system to allow DB Sparpreis tickets to be booked cheaply from 🇩🇪 to Strasbourg (avoid needing to know the Kehl ticket split trick)

Ormenio-Svilengrad
🇬🇷🇧🇬

Missing Service

To do: Extend the one daily Alexandroupouli – Ormenio 8.7km service as far as Svilengrad, and medium term increase frequencies on the whole line. Infrastructure is OK, and trains already available to do this

Plaveč-Muszyna
🇸🇰🇵🇱

Poor Timetable

To do: At the very least extend regional services from Plaveč as far as Muszyna daily and all year round (seasonal, weekends only currently). Medium term assess long distance Kosice – Nowy Sącz – Kraków potential

Romania-Bulgaria
🇷🇴🇧🇬

Missing Electrification

To do: ⚡️ the lines Golenţi – Craiova, Ruse – Rădulești and ideally also Giurgiu – Chiajna, so as to allow through trains to run without a change of locomotive (lines *already* electrified 🇧🇬 side in both cases)

Seifhennersdorf-Varnsdorf
🇩🇪🇨🇿

Missing Service

To do: rebuild the broken level crossing in Seifhennersdorf. This would allow Zittau-Varnsdorf services to be extended back into Germany to Seifhennersdorf (2.1km). No extra trains or extra staff are needed to extend this service

Tallinn-Valga-Rīga
🇪🇪🇱🇻

Poor Timetable

To do: Coordinate timetables between 🇪🇪 Elron & 🇱🇻 Pasažieru vilciens to provide passengers with an easy and swift change of trains at Valga. Medium term extend Rīga – Valga trains as far as Tartu, Estonia’s second city (84km)

Valenciennes-Mons
🇫🇷🇧🇪

Missing Link and Missing Service

To do: maintain and increase the frequencies at Quévy border, ideally with a train every two hours, allowing connections at either Aulnoye or Maubeuge for Valenciennes. Medium term rehabilitate the line via Quiévrain

Vigo-Porto
🇪🇸🇵🇹

Missing Electric Trains

To do: Currently ⛽️ trains on an ⚡️ line. So procure new electric trains for cross border operation, or install Portuguese signalling equipment in Spanish trains that are already capable of running on Portuguese electrification system

Vilnius-Turmantas-Daugavpils
🇱🇹🇱🇻

Missing Service

To do: Extend services from Vilnius – Turmantas to Daugavpils (25.2km). The only cost is fuel for the diesel train, as adequate numbers of trains and staff exist for the service already

Any questions about any of these? Let me know!

Wondering why a border I crossed is not included? Likewise happy to explain

This is the map of where I went 👇
umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossbo…

/ends