Freight News, Inland waterway, Logistics, Rail, Sea

Brussels to build more Solidarity Lanes to Ukraine

[ August 3, 2022   //   Chris Lewis ]

The European Commission is planning to extend four European transport corridors to Ukraine and Moldova, including the ports of Mariupol and Odessa. Transport Commissioner Adina Valean said it was part of Brussels efforts to create ‘Solidarity Lanes’ and help Ukraine continue to export its grain in the face of Russia’s aggression.

The proposal includes measures to convert Ukraine’s Russian-gauge tracks to the European standard gauge, when economically justified, to. This also applies to non-standard track gauges within the EU; the difficulties at the Ukraine border having highlighted how the lack of interoperability makes the railway network inside EU territory vulnerable.

Brussels is also planning to remove Russia and Belarus from the TEN-T maps of intra-European routes earmarked for upgrading.

The Commission’s proposal is now subject to negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council on the TEN-T revision.

Tags: European Commission