A study on the development of the fast growing Eurasian rail networks and their connection to Europe’s rail freight corridors has been presented to the International Union of Railways (UIC). 

Global research firm Roland Berger produced the report for UIC, which gives an overview on the traffic volumes, market players, infrastructure and performance of the key rail routes. It forecasts their development and potential up until 2027, and assesses the key success factors and potential barriers.

‘Right platform’

Currently for internal use only, the report was presented at the 90th General Assembly of the UIC, held in Istanbul on July 10. It is understood that the study will be publicly presented at a conference in Paris later this year with the help of Roland Berger, the UIC Freight Forum and other potential partners. This will provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas between potential partners of the railways on these Euro-Asian corridors.

In his report summarising developments since the organisation’s last summit in December, UIC Chairman Renato Mazzoncini urged member organisations to encourage more investments and policies to enable rail to be ‘the backbone of the sustainable transport of the future’.

Huge investment

“In Europe, huge investment is taking place, and more than 600 billion Euros are still needed under the TEN-T programme to deliver the Trans-European Network and its nine corridors,” said Mazzoncini. “More than one trillion dollars are on the table with the Chinese initiative, One Belt One Road, to connect China and the world. UIC is the right platform to support the actions needed.”