TRANSPORT

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COST 340

Towards a European Intermodal Transport Network:
 Lessons from History

COST is an inter-governmental mechanism to foster research collaboration in Europe, established in 1971. 
Cost has 34 member countries and one associated country. It supports over 160 networks across the research and technology spectrum. The COST scientific secretariat is assumed by the European Science Foundation.

COST 340: A FIVE YEARS EUROPEAN ACTION

The creation of a European intermodal transport network is a high-priority objective of the European Union and one to which it has dedicated studies, specific legislation and very considerable funds.

Successful creation of such a network should take into account the lessons to be learned from correct analysis of the already long history of the integration of European transport networks. Earlier research completed by the COST 340 Action members and their correspondents in several COST member countries, has already demonstrated the historical importance of the concepts of intermodality, interconnection and interoperability. The project developed from 2000 to 2005 as an Action of the COST - Transport EU funded Programme, is thus based on the postulate that detailed knowledge and rigorous historical analysis of the various transport policies, envisage or put into effect since 1945 can significantly improve understanding of current issues involved in the creation of a European intermodal transport network, of the conditions that would make this possible and of the obstacles encountered to date. This project complements existing knowledge with new historical research, thereby summarising and extending its conclusions in order to establish a solid basis for the creation of a European intermodal transport network.

The COST 340 Action has gathered a large number of researchers since 2000. These historians, geographers, economists and engineers are all natives of the countries (as many as 18  in 2004) that agreed to participate in this research programme financed partly by the European Union and partly benefiting from funding by the participating states. Action COST 340 aims to observe and present – independent of ideology and without theoretical preconceptions – the successive realities of the development of trans-European connections and of inter-modal transportation, two major factors in the integration of transportation networks within Europe.

The main objective of the COST 340 Action is to provide a framework of analysis that can act as a decision aid in transport policies and a set of recommendations that will help, thanks to the lessons learnt from history, to establish the priorities to be given to different projects involving trans-European connections and intermodal transport.

The secondary objectives of the COST Action are the following :
>  evaluating European and national projects and public decisions concerning transport networks ;
>  exploring the factors favourable to the establishment of transnational and intermodal infrastructures, and to the creation of transport networks integrated at all the European, national and regional European levels. When necessary, analysing the obstacles which hindered or even excluded these factors ;
>   analysing the actors’ strategy in each country’s private sector, and the strategy of professional organisations and interest groups representing the different modes of transport;
>  showing the benefits of intermodality in a context characterised by a continuous growth of transport demand and by the current integration of the European area (East – West ; North – South).
>   Showing how these advantages will benefit the governments and international or national organisations in charge of representing the different modes of transport at the European level.

While it is true that history shapes the future the results of the Action are of obvious interest to tomorrow's world.

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