CODE24 intends the interconnection of economic development, spatial, transport and ecological planning. The projects area of Corridor 24 covers a number of the most important economic regions in Europe within this major European North-South transport corridor across NL. D. CH and IT linking the North sea port Rotterdam and the Mediterranean port of Genoa.

Its catchment area comprises 70 million inhabitants and operates 50% (700 million tons/year) of the north-south rail freight. The opening of the Lötschberg tunnel in 2007 and the Gotthard tunnel (2017) and the parallel expansion of the feeders will further improve the importance of Corridor 24 as milestones. Nevertheless some major bottlenecks and a lack of transregional coordination still threaten the potential of the axis, limiting its economic and spatial development. Hence the project strives to provide planning tools and tailor made solutions to remove major bottlenecks and enable pro-active stakeholder participation.

CODE24 aims at a coordinated transnational strategy to strengthen and to develop the corridor. The overall objective is to accelerate and jointly develop the transport capacity of the entire corridor by ensuring optimal economic benefits and spatial integration while reducing negative impacts on the environment at local and regional level. By focussing on regional aspects in the corridor area and joint development strategies, the project will strengthen the position of regional actors and stakeholders within the entire Corridor.

CODE24 adds the regional development perspective as a third pillar complementary to the political pillar with the ERMTS Corridor Coordinator and the EEIG formed by D. F. NL. B und CH railway infrastructure companies coordinating infrastructure management aspects.. This intends to be sustained by the establishment of an EGTC as major project aim. Due to its complex & multifunctional approach we apply for the project as a Strategic Initiative.