SINTROPHER - Sustainable Integrated Tram-Based Transport Options for Peripheral European Regions
Overview
Objectives:
Develop sustainable, cost-effective solutions to improve accessibility to/from/within low-density semi-rural peripheral regions (defined as ‘holes within the EU Pentagon’ and areas outside the ‘Pentagon’, peripheral to national territories, and/or disadvantaged by poor access through rail and air hubs to central EU regions) by regional tram systems linking to high-quality multimodal interchanges at national/international rail or air hubs. These will be tested by knowledge transfer across 5 demonstration regions: Nordhessen (Kassel)(DE), Fylde Coast (Blackpool)(UK), West-Vlaanderen (Diksmuide/ Koksijde/ Veurne)(BE), Valenciennes (FR) and Nijmegen-Kleve (NL).
Methodology:
Two alternative solutions will be examined:
- TramTrain systems integrating urban tramway and national rail systems
- Low-cost tram extensions using exclusive right-of-way through urban areas.
This will be achieved by:
- Learning from the experience of successful schemes already implemented, notably in Nordhessen(DE).
- Jointly reviewing opportunities and obstacles (technical. legal. administrative) in applying this experience in other regions.
- Developing appraisal techniques (technical, financial and territorial) to generate investment proposals, ready for implementation, in selected cities and regions.
- Testing new technological and multimodal approaches to adapt the infrastructure (tracks, interchanges) in selected demonstration projects.
5 key Work Packages:
- WP1- Transnational knowledge transfer on technical & legal challenges in the development of regional tram systems.
- WP2- Appraisal of the economic feasibility & developmental/territorial impacts of regional tram systems.
- WP3- Knowledge transfer in improving the inter-operability & accessibility of transport hubs linking the regional tram systems to regional/national gateways.
- WP4- Joint development of innovative marketing strategies addressing potential users and the private sector.
- WP5- Implementation of the communication strategy.
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