'At last, better connections between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands'

Maastricht station (NL)

Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands are important trading partners with excellent relations that are becoming ever closer. Borders are no obstacle to work, study, relationships, leisure and business.

However, cross-border train journeys still include many changes with the associated waiting time, i.e. a time-consuming business. And it is not the only problem in the cross-border train traffic between the three countries.

The connections could be better, ticketing is often complicated and the prices are high. Major improvements to cross-border train travel could be made by means of relatively simple interventions. To make those interventions real and to bring about train travel without boundaries and limits, EurekaRail has been set up. This is firstly for the benefit of passengers, but also to boost economic development and consequently employment and knowledge exchange in the Euroregion and far beyond.

It also benefits the environment and climate. Slowly but surely, the activities of the EurekaRail programme and the efforts of all parties involved on all sides of the border are yielding successes for international train travel.

EurekaRail: borderless train travel between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany

bottleneck 1 For the direct rail link between Eindhoven - Venlo - Mönchengladbach - Düsseldorf (Airport), the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Verkehrverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) have stated in a letter of intent that a train between Düsseldorf and Eindhoven must start running in late 2025. This will mean a reduction of approx. 15 minutes in travelling time. This will require technical changes to the tracks at Eindhoven station. As soon as the missing link, the 12 kilometres of double track between Kaldenkirchen and Dülken, has been laid, the reduction in travelling time will increase to 20 minutes.

bottleneck 2 A direct intercity connection between Eindhoven - Heerlen – Aachen - Cologne requires a track doubling between Heerlen and Landgraaf and electrification of the line in the Netherlands. In Germany too, changes will be required at Herzogenrath and Aachen. The electrification work in the Netherlands started in the spring of 2018. The work is expected to be completed in late 2018. After that concession holder Arriva can run a direct service between Maastricht and Aachen. Arriva has already ordered the special trains that can run on the different power systems. bottleneck 3 A rail link on the Brussels - Leuven - Liège - Maastricht route will require the upscaling of the slow train link between Liège and Maastricht to a faster hourly connection. Technically, the rail link between Liège and Maastricht is suitable for a faster train connection. However, several changes will have to be made on this route.

bottleneck 4 An improved connection between Antwerp - Hamont - Weert will require the electrification of 40 kilometres of track. The introduction of a passenger train between Weert - Hamont is included in the Dutch coalition agreement of October 2017. The Province of Limburg and the Weert municipal authorities have reserved funds for the electrification of the Dutch section. Belgium has now received European funding for the Belgian section. The aim is to have a through train running in 2020.

bottleneck 5 The restoration of the fast connection between Roosendaal - Antwerp will require the extension of the Brussels – Antwerp – Essen intercity service to Roosendaal. As a result, the regions of Roosendaal/Bergen op Zoom, Vlissingen/Middelburg and the six Drecht towns will again have the possibility of a fast connection to Antwerp and further (Brussels). This is important because the Benelux train on this route no longer exists and there is only an hourly slow train.

A M S T E R D A M

T H E H A G U E

E I N D H O V E N

D E N B O S C H

N I J M E G E NE M M E R I C H

A L K M A A R

Z W O L L E

E N S C H E D E

A R N H E M

R O T T E R D A M

B R E D A

A N T W E R P E

V E N L O

W E E R T

H A M O N T

D Ü S S E L D O R F

H E E R L E N

A A C H E NB O N N

K Ö L N

S I E G E N

F R A N K F U R TN A M U R

L I E G E

G E N T

V L I S S I N G E N

B R U S S E L S

K O B L E N Z

E S S E NE S S E N

M Ü N S T E R

H A N N O V E R

M A A S T R I C H T

M Ö N C H E N -G L A D B A C H

G E R M A N Y

B E L G I U M

T H E N E T H E R L A N D S

L U X E M B O U R G

D E N H A A G

E I N D H O V E N

D E N B O S C H

N I J M E G E NE M M E R I C H

E N S C H E D E

A R N H E M

B R E D A

R O O S E N D A A L

A N T W E R P

V E N L O

W E E R T

H A M O N T

D Ü S S E L D O R F

H E E R L E N

A A C H E NB O N N

C O L O G N E

N A M U R

L I È G E

B R U S S E L S

K O B L E N Z

E S S E N

M Ü N S T E R

M A A S T R I C H T

M Ö N C H E N -G L A D B A C H

DUTCH-GERMAN BORDER IS AROUND 580 KM LONG, WITH

� IC CONNECTIONS

7 MOTORWAYS

EINDHOVEN – VENLO – DÜSSELDORF BENEFITS

DIRECT IC CONNECTION

 .� MILLION TRAVELLERS/YEAR EXPECTED

CURRENT TRAVEL TIME: 2 HOURS AND 6 MINUTES

580 km

750

20 minutes faster

EINDHOVEN – HEERLEN – AACHEN – COLOGNE BENEFITS

DIRECT IC CONNECTION

  MILLION TRAVELLERS/YEAR EXPECTED

CURRENT TRAVEL TIME: 2 HOURS AND 58 MINUTES

25 minutes faster

SUSTAINABILITY

Fewer cars,95% less CO2 emissions

It is more climate-friendly to travel by train over longer distances than to travel by car. Travelling by

train emits 95% less CO2 than the average car.

THE RANDSTAD THE NETHERLANDS

FLEMISH DIAMONDBELGIUM

RUHRGERMANY

RESIDENTSX MILL ION

EMPLOYEESX MILL ION

GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT X B ILL ION €

3 6 72 2 64 6 6

8 14 9

1 1 7

4 32 26 0

POPULATION AND ECONOMY OF IMPORTANT TRADE ZONES IN 2016

OPPORTUNITIES

TRADE IN GOODS (ANNUAL)

German federal state Nordrhein-Westfalen the Netherlands

The Netherlands German federal state Nordrhein-Westfalen

KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGEKnowledge triangle Eindhoven - Maastricht - Leuven - Aachen

University of Maastricht16,861 students8.599 international students

University of Aachen 44,517 students5,342 international students

  JOURNEY  PRICE

  TICKET

When travellers board a train anywhere in Belgium, the

Netherlands or Germany, they should be able to pay the same price for a

ticket that can be used in any of the three countries. 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

3 7 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BUSINESSESAround 750 Dutch enterprises are located in the German federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, including more than 80 in Düsseldorf alone, and almost 50 in Cologne.

LEGEND

EXISTING RAIL ROUTES

BOTTLENECKS

HIGH SPEED LINE STATION

DAILY COMMUTING

AIRPORT

UNIVERSITY

PORT

DUTCH-BELGIAN BORDERIS AROUND 460 KM LONG, WITH

  IC CONNECTION

� MOTORWAYS

460 km

R O T T E R D A M

SOUTH NETHERLANDS  ,�¡¡BELGIUM   ,¢¡¡

GERMANY �,�¡¡SOUTH NETHERLANDS �,�¡¡

University of Leuven50,700 students10,058 international students

University of Eindhoven 10,766 students1,413 international students

University of Liège 20,000 students 4,600 international students

MAASTRICHT – LIEGE – LEUVEN – BRUSSELS BENEFITS

DIRECT IC CONNECTION

SHORTER TRAVEL TIME

More trains per hour

ROOSENDAAL – ANTWERPBENEFITS

DIRECT IC CONNECTION

SHORTER TRAVEL TIME

More trains per hour

WEERT – HAMONT – ANTWERPBENEFITS

ELECTRIC TRAIN INSTEAD OF DIESEL

SHORTER TRAVEL TIME

Direct connection

1

4

5

23L E U V E N

D O R T M U N D

U T R E C H T

The EurekaRail programme started in 2016 and has already achieved several successes in just fewer than two years.

The track between Heerlen and Landgraaf is being doubled and the final section between Landgraaf and Herzogenrath is being electrified. The electrication clears the way - or rather: the railway - for a fast, direct train connection between Aachen, Maastricht and Liège. Transporter Arriva will soon be able to operate its brand new train for these three countries.

The direct connection between Eindhoven and Düsseldorf is now much more of a reality thanks to joint German-Dutch decision-making. Also because the Netherlands in now prepared to invest in a few technical changes around Eindhoven station. In Germany, the track doubling between Kaldenkirchen and Dülken is included in the Bundesverkehrswegeplan. The first direct connection without changes and waiting times is expected to be a reality in 2025.

In Belgium, resources have been approved for the electrification of the line between Hamont and Mol. The introduction of a passenger train between Weert in the Netherlands and Hamont in Belgium is featured in the Dutch coalition agreement. The aim is to have a direct train running here by 2020, bringing the connection between the port city of Antwerp and the Netherlands a step closer.

First bottlenecks have been removed

Good for the Euroregion, good for the international economy

By rail electrification, a direct train can be driven from Maastricht (NL) to Aachen (D) by the end of 2018.

Benefits on all routes

Removing bottlenecks on international train connections results in a win-win situation.

1 faster travel, without fuss

Improvement of the railway lines and a timetable with fast trains, without changes and with one generally accepted ticket for a transparent price. All this results in comfortable international train connections and shorter travelling times.

“ The connections to high-speed trains and the airports. This makes the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion more accessible from other European countries and the rest of the world.”

Martin Unfried, international connections expert

2 better for the environment

There are seven motorway connections between the Netherlands and Germany and only two rail connection at intercity level. There are five motorways between the Netherlands and Belgium and since the spring of 2018, one fast rail connection. That makes it difficult to choose the train rather than the car. When aiming to reduce CO2 emissions and to protect our climate, travelling by train is preferable. And research has shown that shorter travelling times and more comfort automatically attract more passengers. That applies to standard train services, but the train can also be a good alternative for European travel up to 800 kilometres. This means that international train traffic can provide a good alternative to air travel within Europe.

" Electric trains do not emit CO2, which is one of the major causes of climate change. What’s more, electric trains in the Netherlands are powered by green electricity, generated by wind turbines.”

Gerard Olde Monnikhof, Dutch rail manager ProRail

3 economic growth

Removing bottlenecks brings together important economic centres: the Randstad urban area, Brainport Eindhoven, the Flemish diamond and the Ruhr area. Better accessibility is also vital for the Euroregion. Regions that wish to develop are far more attractive as a business location.

“ Improved international train connections can contribute to growth, also in Liège and the other four Walloon provinces.”

Bernard Piette, general manager of Logistics in Wallonia

4 knowledge and cultural exchange

Fast and comfortable train connections enlarge the world from a cultural viewpoint too. Universities and colleges of higher education in Eindhoven, Maastricht, Aachen, Liège, Hasselt and Leuven can work together more closely. Knowledge can flow more easily, which is ideal for sharing scientific and creative ideas and for developing exchange programmes for students.

“If you are an innovative region, you also have to focus on mobility.” Jo van Ham, vice-president of the executive board of Eindhoven University of Technology

Düsseldorf station

EurekaRail is working to bring about the Three-Country Train: a single through train connection between Liège, Maastricht, Heerlen and Aachen. An attractive cross-border public transport alternative that will link the core economic centres in the border region, offering many advantages for, for instance, commuters, student exchange, culture enthusiasts and family visits. At the same time, it will create an excellent connection for international passengers between the Dutch rail network and the international high-speed lines starting in Aachen and Liège.

Three-country trainMÖNCHEN-GLADBACH

VISÉ

BRESSOUX

EIJSDEN

MAASTRICHT RANDWIJCK

MEERSSEN

VALKENBURG LANDGRAAF

HERZOGENRATH

BELGIUM

GERMANY

THE NETHERLANDS

MAASTRICHT

HEERLEN

AACHEN HOF

BRUSSELS

ANTWERP

NAMUR

LIÈGE

COLOGNEBONNVENLO

DUSSELDORFMÖNCHEN-GLADBACH

Drielandentrein(Three-country train)

LEGEND

HIGH SPEED TRAIN

ADVANTAGES

- FAST AND DIRECT CONNECTION

- SHORTER TRAVEL TIME

- FEWER TRANSFERS

- 1 TICKET, 1 RATE

LOCAL TRAIN

LUIK - AACHEN HOF VIA MAASTRICHTONE TRAIN PER HOUR

MAASTRICHT - HEERLENTWO TRAINS PER HOUR

ACTUAL: FOUR TRAINS PER HOUR

VISÉ - HERZOGENRATH VIA MAASTRICHTONE TRAIN PER HOUR

UNIVERSITY

HIGH SPEED LINE

In addition to the technical bottlenecks, there is still the issue of the various tickets and the obscure prices. EurekaRail is advocating a single ticket with a clear price, which is easy to obtain via a single digital payment system. For this purpose, various pilots are underway at transport companies. These are being followed closely by EurekaRail.

One ticket

Cross-border travel with one ticket.

Available on smartphone for example.

EurekaRail works to ensure that the missing links for borderless train travel can be provided rapidly. But it also works to remove bottlenecks.

In recent years, we have brought together administrators, politicians, civil servants and stakeholders in all countries involved. This was with the intention of mapping out the bottlenecks (see infographic) and creating support for possible solutions. We are carrying out investigations into the technical aspects with various parties, we are assessing the safety aspects, we are looking for funding and subsidy possibilities, we are sharing knowledge and are trying to bring as many parties as possible together. At the same time, the social costs and benefits are being assessed: what will it yield for the economy, the environment and what are the growth opportunities in the numbers of passengers on the various routes. These aspects together have already produced a number of successes.

EurekaRail is facilitating international train travel

Valentina Pyankova from Belgium is on her way home from Aachen railway station.

If you opt for the train, CO2 emission are on average 95% less than if you opt for the car over the same distance

Liège station in Belgium.

Eureka! I have it…! Archimedes is alleged to have said after discovering Archimedes’ Principle. A joyous exclamation after solving a difficult problem.

EurekaRail consists of several parties that are jointly working to address the issue of cross-border rail traffic in the south of the Netherlands. No easy task, but not impossible. In EurekaRail, the provinces of Limburg and Noord-Brabant are joining forces. EurekaRail is supported by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and is co-financed by the European Union.

If you wish to know more, you can follow all developments by going to: eurekarail.netIn English, French, German and Dutch.

Why EurekaRail?

More trains: more opportunities

Eindhoven station has been renovated and renewed in recent years.

From the year 2025 there will be a direct train between Eindhoven (NL) and Düsseldorf (D).

eurekarail.net

Logic will get you from A to B.Imagination will take you everywhere.

– Albert Einstein