Currently, the rail network in the project area is in bad shape, especially in border regions which is hindering the full use of potentials within the entire area. In the German/Polish border area, a regional stalemate situation has evolved, which cannot be handled successfully without transnational input. The same situation can be found in the Polish/Ukraine border area due to different track gauges: Here the strong initiative of EuroRail has evolved, offering fascinating perspectives for Polish-Ukrainian cooperation and future development of the Central axis.

Overall it can be stated that it is true that rail infrastructure connections between metropolitan areas leading through border areas are in a very bad condition, transport offers do not fit with the relevance of relations, and passenger potentials are not exploited. Since advancing the rail network is a key factor of accessibility and sustainable transport, Via Regia plus primarily aims to improve the accessibility of the area from East Germany through South Poland to Slovakia and to the Ukraine at the transnational, regional and local level through the support of environmentally friendly means of transport.

It focuses on an important Trans-European transport corridor, which is of high relevance for the interconnectivity and the internal and external accessibility of the Central Europe area. Having also in mind the full integration of labour markets in 2011, this situation will lead unavoidably to a rising share of road transport and the marginalisation of rail transport, thus leading to a transport system failing to meet the principles of sustainable development.

There are two strong starting points and motivations for the cooperation:

1. The integrating backbone of the project area is the former Pan-European Transport Corridor III, now Central axis. It is indeed a strategic East-West link within the TEN-T networks, reaching from Europe’s core zone to Ukraine, but also connecting several North-South relations. Besides selected regions, the main metropolitan areas located at the crossing points are participating in the project.
2. The historical trading route Via Regia provides the cross-cultural and mental connection of the regions concerned. It allows for an enormous visibility and outreach of issues being subject of the cooperation due to growing awareness for this regional trade mark.