The incredible £24.8bn transport mega project that will transform Europe

This major project is set to modernise and upgrade travel across the continent (Image: Getty)

For millions of people who travel every day, whether it’s commuters crossing from France to Switzerland, business travellers hopping between capitals, or tourists exploring Europe’s many destinations, the frustration of delays, complex connections, and ageing infrastructure is all too familiar. But that’s about to change. Europe is on the brink of a transportation revolution thanks to a groundbreaking investment in the Trans-European Network (TEN-T), a colossal multi-billion pound infrastructure initiative designed to connect the European continent like it has never been before.

This is an ambitious project planning to create a massive interconnected network of roads, railways, airports, and waterways designed to create seamless travel and commerce from the Atlantic to the borders of Asia. The core network, connecting the key links between major cities and hubs, is planned to be completed by 2030, the extended core network is targeted for completion by 2040, and the comprehensive network, which links all EU regions to the core network, aims to be finished by 2050.

By 2040, passenger railway lines on the core and extended core networks must travel at 99.4 mph (Image: Getty)

The concept of TEN-T dates back to the early 1990s when the European Commission first adopted action plans to develop trans-European networks.

According to the European Commission, the key infrastructure requirements of the TEN-T include that by 2040, passenger railway lines on the core and extended core networks must support trains traveling at speeds of 99.4 mph or faster. The single European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) will be deployed across the entire TEN-T network, enhancing rail safety and efficiency while phasing out national signalling systems.

Major airports with over 12 million passengers annually must be connected by long-distance rail, providing a competitive alternative to domestic feeder flights. The number and capacity of transhipment terminals will be expanded to meet traffic demands, including accommodating 740-meter-long trains to promote sustainable transport and strengthen Europe’s combined transport sector.

All major cities along the TEN-T network will develop sustainable urban mobility plans to encourage zero and low-emission transport. Finally, TEN-T serves as the foundation for deploying recharging and refuelling points for alternative fuels, such as hydrogen, complementing the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation for urban nodes and terminals.

Among the main components of TEN-T are nine core corridors, which are vital routes connecting multiple countries and important economic regions.

The nine TEN-T core corridors connect key regions across Europe, such as the Baltic–Adriatic Corridor linking Northern Europe to the Adriatic Sea, and the North Sea–Baltic Corridor connecting North Sea ports to the Baltic countries.

Other corridors include the Scandinavian–Mediterranean from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, the Rhine–Alpine through Germany and Switzerland to Northern Italy, the Rhine–Danube linking Western to Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean Corridor along the Mediterranean coast from Spain to Hungary.

Additionally, the Atlantic Corridor connects the Iberian Peninsula with France, the Orient/East–Med links Central Europe to the Eastern Mediterranean, and the North Sea–Mediterranean connects North Sea ports with Southern France and Italy.

The initiative not only focuses on building new infrastructure but also upgrading existing routes to meet modern standards and demands.

Funding for TEN-T is a collaboration between national governments and the European Union, supplemented by loans and private investments. Most investments will be provided by the Member States themselves, though additional funding sources include EU Structural and Cohesion Funds, and the European Investment Bank, according to a report from the European Union published in April 2025.