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Trans-European Network for Transport
The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) regulation sets the basis for the European’s transport network policy and constitutes a key instrument for the development of coherent, efficient, multimodal, and high-quality transport infrastructure across the EU. The Regulation has been revised in 2023 to put the transport sector on track to cut its emissions by 90%, as stated in the Green Deal Plan and Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy. It aims to increase connectivity in Europe, foster the resilience of the transport system, and shift more passengers and freight to sustainable modes of transport.
The network comprises railways, inland waterways, short sea shipping routes and road linking urban nodes, maritime and inland ports, airports, and multimodal terminals. High and common infrastructures standards are set for each transport mode to foster a common European network. It is designed according to an objective methodology, setting different layers:
- The core network includes the most important connections linking major cities and nodes and must be completed by 2030.
- The comprehensive network connects all regions of the EU to the core network and needs to be completed by 2050.
- The revised TEN-T, adopted in December 2023 introduces a third layer, the extended core network, to be added as an intermediate milestone and completed by 2040.
On top of these layers, nine European Transport Corridors and two horizontal priorities were created to support the completion of the TEN-T network, and a European Coordinator is appointed for each corridor and each horizontal priority, overseeing the progress of the corridor and acting as an ‘ambassador’ of the TEN-T policy, fostering cooperation among Member States and focusing on cross-border issues.
Acknowledging the critical importance of harmonising national plans with the EU's commitments to establish the TEN-T network, the revised regulation mandates the synchronisation of national strategies with the EU's transport policy. Consequently, Member States are tasked with ensuring coherence between their respective transport and investment plans and the key objectives outlined in the new regulation. Among other considerations, Member States are expected to align their priorities with those delineated in the work plans of the European Coordinators responsible for supervising the nine European Transport Corridors. Member States will also provide the Commission with the relevant national plans or programmes upon their adoption.
What’s in it for hydrogen?
The TEN-T regulation provides the basis for the implementation of other files crucial for the deployment of alternative fuels in EU transport, namely:
- the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation targets for deployment of hydrogen refuelling stations are based on the TEN-T core network and identified urban nodes;
- FuelEU Maritime targets for mandatory on-shore power supply of ships apply to ports identified on the TEN-T core network as well.
Most importantly, the TEN-T guidelines determine eligibility for funding under the CEF Transport programme (Connecting Europe Facility), which includes the AFIF (Alternative Fuel Infrastructures Facility), financing hydrogen refuelling stations for different modes.
The revised TEN-T text confirms the new definition of urban nodes as having a population of 100,000 or more, thus increasing the number of urban nodes from 82 to 430. This will increase the number of hydrogen refuelling stations across Europe as each urban node shall have one according to AFIR, but also gives urban nodes access to CEF Transport and AFIF funding mechanisms to support their deployment.
Regarding maritime transport, the revised TEN-T guidelines recognise the role of ports in the supply of energy by including ports of between 500,000 and 1 million tonnes of cargo on the comprehensive network as long as “its contribution to the diversification of EU energy supplies […] is one of the main activities of the port”. This recognition is reiterated in the recital where production of green hydrogen is clearly stated as a contribution. This enables smaller ports identified as energy hubs for the export and imports of clean energy to benefit from EU funding to develop their infrastructures.
Concerning railways, the exemptions to electrification for specific routes connecting multimodal freight terminals in ports, airports, as well as for isolated networks opens the possibility of running hydrogen trains on the European network. This proves particularly useful when geographical constraints make electrification less economically or technically viable, whilst still providing an alternative to diesel trains.
Overall, the regulation sets the promotion of zero-emission mobility as part of the main objectives of the network and increases references to alternative fuels deployment on the network.
Links to the original document and additional information:
Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) website
Revised TEN-T Regulation proposal
Provisional Agreement on the revised Trans-European Transport Network Regulation (TEN-T)
