The EurekaRail project organisation first identified the bottlenecks (see infographic) and worked with administrators, politicians, government officials and immediate stakeholders to create support for potential solutions. An essential element of this effort was an analysis of the costs and benefits for society. What does a cross-border rail connection cost, and how would a properly functioning international rail network benefit the economy and the environment? What growth can we expect in the number of train travellers on the various routes? The answers to these questions are extremely positive.
The common themes in all of EurekaRail’s work are connecting partners and specialists, finding sources of funding and sharing knowledge. Over the past six years, some important concrete results have been achieved that motivate everyone involved to continue working to realise cross-border train connections. There is still plenty of work to do, but the essential first steps have been taken; international train connections in the border regions have made tangible improvements.