The European Commission is investing a total of 776 million Euros in rail projects in Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, Poland and Romania. It is part of a major investment of 4 billion Euros for infrastructure projects from the EU Cohesion Fund.

The Cohesion Fund is intended for Member States with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita below 90 percent of the EU average. The aim of this fund is to reduce economic and social inequalities and to promote sustainable development.

EU subsidies

Of the EU subsidies, 76 million Euros is allocated to the improvement of the rail corridor between Prague and Pilsen in Czech Republic. The travel time between Rokycany and Pilsen will be reduced by half due to new and better connections. More than 358 million Euros is reserved for the extension of the Circumetnea railway line in Catania on the Italian island of Sicily, with investments in eight new stations and new trains.

In Poland, 126 million Euros will be invested in the construction of the Szczecińska Kolej Metropolitalna railway line. This railway line connects the most important cities of West Pomerania. 39 million Euros of the subsidies will go to electric trains that will run in Warsaw. Around 58 million Euros is meant for the modernisation of 152 passenger trains and the purchase of 20 electric locomotives for the railway undertaking PKP Intercity.

Trans-European rail network

The European Commission is also investing 119 million Euros in the connection between Ovar and Gaia in Portugal, which is part of the Trans-European rail network. This project focuses on shorter travel times, more passenger comfort and increased rail safety.

In Romania, 97 million Euros of the EU subsidies will go to metro line 2, to improve rail infrastructure and purchase new metros. The European Commission announced last week that 200 million Euros will be invested in infrastructure projects from the new EU fund CEF Transport Blending Facility. Among other things, this fund is used to invest in the European rail safety system ERTMS.

Also read: New CEF facility created for funding ERTMS