Technical

Secretariat
Pan-European
Transport
Corridor X

Pan-European Corridor X:
State of Play and Perspectives
M. Miltiadou, Surveyor & Transport Engineer MSc

Member of the Technical Secretariat of the Steering Committee for

Pan-European Corridor X
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Egnatia Str., 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece,
tel.+30 2310 996154, fax +30 2310 996030, transp@edessa.topo.auth.gr
Rail Investment South East Europe 2009 (RISEE09)
Zagreb, 30 June 01 July 2009

The Corridors concept

Prague Declaration on All-European Transport Policy, 1991

Foresaw the indication of the most important transport routes

Crete Declaration, 1994

Set of indicative guidelines covering the main infrastructure Corridors

for the various transport modes
Definition of nine Corridors

Helsinki Declaration, 1997

Definition of Corridor X
Definition of Transport Areas
Overall objective: promote sustainable, efficient transport systems
Sub-objective: promote rehabilitation or reconstruction of problematic
links, giving priority to measures, which better exploit existing
infrastructures
Mean: collective and coordinated effort of all parties concerned in order
to ensure appropriate investment schemes

Definition of Corridor X

2.300km roads
2.528km railways
12 airports
4 sea- & river- ports

Main Axis:
Salzburg Ljubljana Zagreb Beograd Nis Skopje Veles
Thessaloniki
Branch A:
Graz (Austria) Maribor (Slovenia) Zagreb (Croatia)
Branch B:
Budapest (Hungary) Novi Sad (Serbia) Beograd (Serbia)
Branch C:
Nis (Serbia) Sofia (Bulgaria) and further via Corridor IV to
Istanbul
Branch D:
Veles (F.Y.R.O.M.) Bitola (F.Y.R.O.M.) Florina (Greece) and
further via Florina Kozani (via Egnatia) to Igoumenitsa

Structures for the development of

Corridor X

Preparative meetings of delegations of countries concerned and

representatives of the European Commission and other International
Organizations
15 March 2001: Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
by the Ministers of Transport of the participating countries and the
European Commission
MoU

Aim: Cooperation for the development of Corridor X infrastructure,

operation and use
Means for implementation of the MoU:

General rules on studies

Exchange of information
Agreement on technical standards providing interoperability
Border crossings and customs cooperation
Framework for the participation of private sector and International Financial
Institutions
Definition of priorities, budgets, time-plans for specific measures

Coordination by the Steering Committee

Steering Committee for the

implementation of the MoU

Delegates of the eight countries participating in Corridor X

and representative of the European Commission + observers
(International Organizations and third countries)
Meets at least once a year
Chaired by Greek Ministry of Transport since 1999 until 2010
Supported by a Technical Secretariat (T.S.)
Assigned to the Department of Transportation and
Hydraulic Engineering of the Faculty of Surveying
Engineering of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

The role of the Technical

Secretariat of Corridor X (1/3)

Collection and evaluation of existing information and relevant

studies with respect to Corridor X
Coordination and monitoring approach:

Annual questionnaire based surveys in all countries of Corridor X

Extended on-site visits for expertise and meetings with members of
the road and rail authorities and organizations in each country
Collection of reports from various sources (international and
national organizations) about Corridor X
International cooperation

European Commission DG TREN, DG REGIO

Other Corridors in the area
UN/ECE Transport Division
European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, World Bank
Infrastructure Steering Group of the Joint office for SEE of EC and WB

The role of the Technical

Secretariat of Corridor X (2/3)

Data analysis Development and maintenance of a Database

and a relevant Geographic Information System (GIS)
Dissemination of results: Reports, papers, conferences,
Website
Inventory of existing studies and evaluation and exploitation of
their results
Suggestions for the terms of references for new studies
Examination of conditions providing interoperability and
promoting intermodality
Assistance to participating countries for the involvement of the
private sector and International Financial Institutions
Traffic flows forecasting study for definition of priority needs
for projects

The role of the Technical

Secretariat of Corridor X (3/3)

Contribution to the optimization of border crossing operations

and procedures

Questionnaire-based surveys
On-site visits for expertise
Constitution of a Working Group under the Steering Committee
for the improvement of border crossings along Corridor X
Protocol for cooperation of all authorities involved in border
crossing procedures signed in Summer 2006

Exchange of information with South East Europe Transport

Observatory (SEETO) Technical Secretariat for the
implementation of the SEE Core Network
Exchange of information with ARGE Korridor X cooperation
of the Railway Organizations of the countries of Corridor X

State of play of Road Corridor X

Total length: 2.299,6km

72,6% of the road network consists of motorways

Main Axis: 1.451,4km [85,9% motorways]

Branch A: 163,4km [73,7% motorways]
Branch B: 352,9km [67,5% motorways]
Branch C: 191,8km [7,5% motorways]
Branch D: 140,1km

Permitted maximum speed along the road axis: 120km/h (in

most of the parts)

By 2015 Road Corridor X shall be constructed and operate in

motorway profile

PAN-EUROPEAN ROAD CORRIDOR X

Progress of motorway construction

on Road Corridor X since 2001
Country

Part of Corridor X

Road Section

Total Length
(km)

Constructed Length
(km)

Slovenia

Main Axis

Bic Obrezje *

75,5

59,9

Slovenia

Main Axis

Vrba Naklo

20,9

20,9

Slovenia

Branch A

Maribor Gruskovje *

38,8

3,0

Croatia

Main Axis

Velika Kopanica Lipovac *

53,56

53,56

Croatia

Main Axis

Zagreb Bregana

13,0

13,0

Croatia

Branch A

Macelj Krapina *

19,4

19,4

Hungary

Branch B

Kiskunfelegyhaza Roszke *

60,0

60,0

Serbia

Main Axis &

Branch B

Belgrade bypass * (Phase I Two-way

roads)

47,4

34,6

Serbia

Branch B

Batajnica Belgrade *

10,11

10,11

Serbia

Branch B

Novi Sad Batajnica *

61,15

61,15

Serbia

Branch C

Nis (Komren) Dimitrovgrad *

104,1

9,7

Bulgaria

Branch C

Kalotina Sofia * (2 lanes per direction with

no separation)

48

48

F.Y.R.O.M.

Main Axis

Gradsko Demir Kapija Udovo

Gevgelija *

75,5

42,5

627,42

435,82

* Problematic section

Total

State of play of Rail Corridor X

Total length: 2.528,2km

89,3% electrified
63% single track alignment 37% double track alignment

Main Axis: 1742,3km (55% single track alignment Fully electrified)

Branch A: 154,3km (70% double track alignment Fully electrified)
Branch B: 305,6km (96% single track alignment Fully electrified)
Branch C: 161,0km (95% single track alignment 90% diesel)
Branch D: 165,0km (100% single track alignment Fully diesel)

Limited investments for the improvement of the railway

infrastructure by 2015
Not doubling of tracks, except in Austria and Slovenia
Priority in rehabilitation and upgrading projects

UKRAINE

PAN-EUROPEAN RAIL CORRIDOR X

SLOVAKIA

[
%

VIENNA
SALZBURG
#

#
Y

[
%

AUSTRIA

BUDAPEST

GRAZ
#
Y

HUNGARY

SZEGED

#
#

MARIBOR
SUBOTICA

LJUBLJANA

[
%

ROMANIA

ZAGREB

SLOVENIA

[
%

CROATIA

NOVI SAD

#
#

[
%

BELGRADE

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
BULGARIA

[
%

NIS

SARAJEVO

#
Y

SOFIA

LEGEND

CAP ITA L
MA IN CITY
START / EN D OF SEC TION
2. D OUBLE TRA CK ALIGNMEN T (AC TU AL - %)
0% (100% single track)
1 - 40%
41 - 80%
81 - 99%
100% double track
Not applicable
No data

[
%

SERBIA- MONTENEGRO

[
%

#
Y
#

ITALY

F.Y.R.O.M.

[
%

SKOPJE

VELES

#
#

#
#

[
%

TIRANE

#
Y

#
Y

ALBANIA

THESSALONIKI
FLORINA

GREECE

Effective investments on Corridor X

since 1994 (excl. PPPs & concessions)
Country

Investments
(millions of euros)

Period

Sector

Austria

622,8

1996 2002
and 2006
2008

Railways

Slovenia

1.607,61

1994 2006

Roads and Railways (data for

roads only for 2003-06)

Croatia

204,27

2003 2006

Roads and Railways

Hungary

374,97

1994 2005

Roads and Railways

Serbia

454,3

1994 2007

Roads and Railways (data for

roads only for 2003-07)

Bulgaria

No data

F.Y.R.O.M.

31,98

1994 2007

Roads and Railways (data for

roads only for 2005-07)

Greece

47,5

2003 2004

Railways

3,343 billions

Traffic & Trends

Practically only the Road Corridor X serves long international

connections.

International traffic flows, despite the increasing trends, will not

be, at least in the short-term, the main component of the rail
traffic volumes.

Short-mid term: No saturation problems appear. Usually only

50% of the line capacity is used.

Mid-long term estimation:

Some saturation problems will appear in Croatia (Zagreb Dugo

Selo line)
Some flows close to the capacity in Slovenia (Jesenice Ljubljana
line), in Croatia (Sisak Novska line) and in Bulgaria (Kalotina
Sofia line).

Low level of quality and service, in terms of speed, comfort and

safety.

Development Considerations

The development priorities of the Corridor Xs infrastructure

experiences the infrastructure development criteria at PanEuropean, and not only national, level.

Transport policy (EC/ DG TREN), is interpreted to the effort of

the Pan-European and Trans-European Networks
implementation. The national strategies should be adjusted to
the same direction, which is the most appropriate way for
securing international financing.

Priorities are not defined only by the demand-supply relation, but

also by their involvement in development projects of strategic
character, where, among their other aims, is also the arsis of the
Western Balkans area isolation and the securing of the
consecutiveness of the structural and operational characteristics
of the infrastructures.

Financing issues

The eligibility of infrastructure projects to be financed, and

their priority are pretty much depending on their financial
feasibility.

That is why large scale road projects secure funds more

rapidly.

For large scale railway projects the countries concerned will

have to undertake the major part of the cost. National budget
resources, borrowing in domestic financial markets, user
charges and, where practical, realistic PPP schemes could be
examined as alternative financing means.

Conclusions (1/2)

Most realistic conclusion: The share of roads will remain at

high levels in the years to come, until the railway organisations
will be seriously capable to shift persons and goods in their
favour. Railway traffic should in general at best remain stable
or increase quite slowly in the coming 15 years.

Railways should face the challenge to overcome the general

crisis of the sector especially in the Western Balkans.

Despite the progress made in adjusting the national legal

frameworks to the requirements of trade and transport
facilitation, their practical application remains unsatisfactory.

Reorganization, cost cutting policies, new rolling stock, double

tracks and electrification of lines together with the strategy of
the EU to promote railways could significantly increase the use
of railways.

Conclusions (2/2)

Capacity should be retained or even be increased by:

optimising the scheduling/ management systems

low cost construction addition of maneuver lines in small
subsections with poor geometry
with systematic maintenance of the infrastructure, the equipment
and the rolling stock

Apart from the need to improve the current infrastructure,

specific measures should be taken at cross border stations.

Schemes of joint performance of border procedures at the

Serbian-Bulgarian frontiers (Corridor Xc), have very
encouraging results and should be promoted for implementation
as best practice to other borders along international routes.

Thank you for your kind attention!

Corridor X Website
http://edessa.topo.auth.gr/X