The latest round of Military Mobility funds provided by the EU Commission as part of CEF has been approved. Railway projects are once again highlighted. Of the 807 million euros released by the Commission, approximately 485 million euros will target railway infrastructure projects. Eight out of thirty-eight projects will also directly impact freight.
According to EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean, 112 proposals were submitted to receive Military Mobility funding in the context of the CEF. The Commissioner underlined that this was the highest participation rate so far. This is the third and last round of Military Mobility funding. The two previous funding rounds released investment amounts of approximately 1.1 billion euros.
Regarding railway projects, an array of them are benefiting from money to make infrastructure suitable for the use of military needs. Some of the highlights for rail include the 51 million euro grant for the Latvian part of Rail Baltica, the 91 million euro grant for railway upgrades in the German railway network, and also the 54 million euro grant for the modernisation of four major rail classification yard to boost single wagonload traffic in France.
Of course, these are not the only states benefiting from MIlitary Mobility funding. Below is a comprehensive analysis of the most important projects.
Upgrades in Germany
Starting from the projects already mentioned, the German CEF grant stands out from the rest. The Commission will give Germany almost 91 million euros to upgrade three core sections of the railway network.
According to the Commission, the upgrades will concern “the development of a 740-metre siding at the Sechtem station, the reconstruction of the Stichkanal-Ahlem bridge and the expansion of the Ulm-Dornstadt road-rail Terminal”. Work on these sections will improve infrastructure for long-distance freight and passenger traffic.
Substantial funding for Latvian part of Rail Baltica
One of the most important funds granted concern the development of the Latvian part of Rail Baltica. The major infrastructure project will receive more than 51 million euros that will be used for the construction of a dual-use road-rail bridge across the river Daugava, the construction of a 235-metre-long railway overpass in Riga built with the 1520mm track gauge and finally, the reconstruction of a 5-kilometre road connection between Salaspils Intermodal Terminal and the TEN-T road network. Work is expected to contribute substantially to the completion of the Rail Baltica project.
France upgrades hump yards
With more than 54 million euros granted by the EU, French Infrastructure Manager SNCF Reseau enjoys one of the most considerable funding amounts for Military Mobility. The Commission provided the money for the modernisation of four major hump yards (railway classification yards) in France that is supposed to foster and develop single wagonload use in the country.
Italy targets better port connectivity
The ports of Genoa and La Spezia in Italy are the key targets for upgrades via the Military Mobility funds. Specifically, approximately 29 million euros will be invested in upgrading the railway system in Genoa’s port facilities to enable it to receive 750-metre-long trains. Part of the funds will also be used to “install a new computerised interlocking and electric traction system”.
Moreover, 9 million euros will be invested in the port of La Spezia. In this case, the purpose is to improve the railway connection to the port and complete the new railway station of La Spezia Marittima. Work will also include necessary upgrades to accommodate 740-metre-long trains.
740-metre capacity focal point in the Netherlands
The Netherlands will not lag in investments. The country, which is a rail logistics hub, will have the chance to utilise almost 50 million euros to upgrade the capacity of five railway yards, with the main target being once again the seamless accommodation of longer trains (740 metres).
Additionally, a considerably lower amount (less than a million euros) will be invested in the upgrade of the Dutch Verbrugge Zeeland Terminal. In this case, the aim will be to increase freight loading capacity and containerised transport by rail. To achieve this, work on the terminal’s rail infrastructure will involve extending existing tracks to accommodate 740-metre trains and upgrading the track parallel to the main quay into a dual one.
Largest investment in Poland concerns road
On the other hand, Poland will also receive grants for multiple projects. The largest one, however, concerns a road infrastructure project. Nevertheless, rail is not neglected. According to the Commission, a 52 million euro grant “covers the construction of the new double-track railway bridge over Wisła river located on C-E20 railway line and the upgrading of over 3 kilometres double-track railway line on the section from Góra Kalwaria to Kępa Gliniecka”. The project is expected to improve the line’s capacity and facilitate international freight and passenger rail.
In addition, Poland will launch more investments. More than 8 million euros will be allocated to constructing an intermodal terminal in the port of Gdynia that will enhance sea-rail capacity. An additional amount of more than 4 million euros will be allocated to a project aiming to construct a railway transshipment yard and reconstruct a ro-ro ramp in the port of Szczecin to boost containerised rail transport.
Sweden targets key rail sections
The focus now turns to Sweden. The highlight in the Nordic country concerns upgrading the Iron Ore Line connecting the ports of Narvik and Lulea. The project entails the construction of additional railways in three sections of the heavily used line that will increase capacity considerably. The investment will amount to 8.6 million euros.
Sweden also aims to improve connectivity around Gothenburg, the country’s most important logistics hub. In this case, the investment amounts to 19.2 million euros, and work will focus on reconstructing Olskroken, a 5-way railway junction in the congested core node of Gothenburg part of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Core Network Corridor. The project will separate freight traffic from passenger traffic and contribute to enhanced railway capacity, among other things.
Interesting projects in other countries
Apart from the abovementioned projects, several more will be implemented in other countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. In Belgium, the port of Antwerp-Brugge will receive a 30 million euro grant to renovate a railway bridge and resolve railway connectivity bottlenecks.
In Denmark, almost 43 million euros will be allocated to “upgrade an existing railway section between Kalvebod and the Copenhagen South transport node by constructing two passing rail tracks for freight trains, including civil works, earthworks, drainage and electrification works”. The project’s main benefit will be reducing delays in mixed passenger and freight rail traffic between Sweden and Germany.
Last but not least, Finland will invest more than 16 million euros in upgrading the railway section Oulu-Laurila in northern Finland, which is located on the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Core Network Corridor (CNC) and the North Sea-Baltic CNC. Additionally, the Nordic country will invest almost 3.5 million euros to upgrade some rail facilities in the port of Pori in the country’s southwest.
