Integrating Europe S Transport System

This book looks at the most recent transport and investment trends. It then examines the pan-European process of legal harmonisation and adjustment of transport systems and analyses emerging trade and transport links between Europe and Asia.

"Four years after the European Commission adopted its Transport White Paper, CEPS formed a Task Force of experienced practitioners to review European transport policy. The members of this Task Force are now publishing their findings and conclude that numerous challenges remain in the European transport arena. The release of this report is timed to coincide with the forthcoming mid-term review by the Commission of EU progress towards a single market for transport. Until recently, EU transport policy has been firmly wedded to the twin ideas of "decoupling' transport from economic growth and encouraging a 'modal shift' from road to rail, especially for freight transport. With economic growth in the doldrums and an urgent need to reinvigorate the Lisbon strategy, however, many now believe that transport policy should play a central role in the process of enhancing European competitiveness. While progress has been made towards a coherent, EU-wide road transport policy, less has been achieved for rail, air and sea in recent years. The CEPS transport group sees future transport demand set to grow more strongly than anticipated due to internal market reforms and globalisation. If this growth materialises, rather than favouring rail, all transport modes and technological options must be allowed to play their appropriate part in meeting Europe's escalating transport needs. The good news is that this time there are hopeful signs that these ideas are gaining ground in both the Commission and the Parliament" -- back cover.

Travel is an essential part of everyday life and today most journeys are multimodal. It is the total travel experience that counts and integrated transport must reduce the inconvenience of transfers between modes. Most research and many publications on transport policy advocate sustainable transport, but the priority given to integration has been negligible. Yet integration is one of the most important means to advance sustainable transport and sustainability more generally. While integrated transport systems are seen to be an ideal, there is a failure to make the transition from policy to practice. The authors argue that the achievement of sustainable transport is still a dream, as an integrated transport policy is a prerequisite for a sustainable transport system. It is only when the two concepts of sustainability and integration operate in the same direction and in a positive way that real progress can be made. In this book, transportation experts from across the world have addressed the questions about what is integration, why is it so important and why is it so hard to achieve? The book provides an in-depth analysis of these issues and it aims to provide a better understanding of the subject, about what should be strived for, about what is realistic to expect, and about how to move forward towards a more integrated provision of transport infrastructure, services and management.

Europe is undergoing fundamental change as barriers and borders are broken down, as new technologies are introduced, and as the European Union expands. This study provides an overview of the present state of affairs. It has been written for a non-technical market and covers spatial, economic, telecommunications and political issues. The theoretical material is illustrated with individual case studies from a variety of European countries.

The Round Table looks at how the European railway landscape is being reshaped. In doing so, it presents lessons which stand to benefit transport policy throughout Europe.