Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)

The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) is the European Union’s long-term strategy for building a coordinated and multimodal transport system. Its central aim is to shift traffic from road to rail and inland waterways, reduce cross-border bottlenecks, and ensure interoperability across Member States. The policy supports economic integration, sustainable mobility, and the climate targets set out in the EU Green Deal.

History and Policy Development

TEN-T was first defined in the 1990s, building on the Maastricht Treaty’s mandate for cross-border connectivity. The initial focus was on linking national transport systems and connecting peripheral regions to central markets.

A major legislative revision in 2013 introduced a two-layer structure: a core network to be completed by 2030 and a comprehensive network targeted for 2050. The core network includes nine multimodal core corridors designed to support rail freight, inland waterways, and intermodal transport.

In the 2020s, a further revision is underway to align TEN-T with the European Green Deal, the Fit for 55 package, and military mobility requirements.

Structure and Corridors

TEN-T consists of two levels:

• Core network – strategic corridors linking major cities, ports, and border crossings.

• Comprehensive network – wider coverage ensuring accessibility across all regions.

Core Network Corridors

Scandinavian–Mediterranean
Helsinki – Stockholm – Copenhagen – Hamburg – Munich – Rome – Palermo – Malta

North Sea–Baltic
Helsinki – Tallinn – Riga – Warsaw – Berlin – Amsterdam – Brussels

North Sea–Mediterranean
Dublin – London – Paris – Luxembourg – Marseille

Baltic–Adriatic
Gdańsk – Warsaw – Vienna – Bratislava – Ljubljana – Venice

Orient/East-Med
Dresden – Budapest – Sofia – Athens – Nicosia

Rhine–Alpine
Rotterdam – Antwerp – Cologne – Basel – Milan – Genoa

Rhine–Danube
Frankfurt – Vienna – Bratislava – Budapest – Bucharest

Atlantic
Lisbon – Madrid – Bordeaux – Paris – Mannheim

Mediterranean
Algeciras – Barcelona – Lyon – Milan – Ljubljana – Budapest – Ukrainian border

Financing and Implementation

TEN-T projects are co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the European Investment Bank, and national governments. CEF grants focus on cross-border rail links, inland waterways, alternative fuels infrastructure, and digital systems such as the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).

Implementation is coordinated by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), with designated corridor coordinators supervising progress.

Policy Relevance

TEN-T is central to EU climate and transport policy. By prioritising rail and inland waterways over road transport, it contributes to decarbonisation, reduces congestion, and enhances cross-border mobility. It also strengthens economic cohesion across regions and supports resilience in supply chains and defence.

In the long term, TEN-T forms the backbone of a Single European Transport Area, ensuring connectivity, competitiveness, and sustainability throughout the Union.