EuroCap-Rail (also spelled Eurocaprail[1] or Eurocap Rail)[2] is a proposed 397-kilometre (247 mi) high-speed rail corridor through Belgium, Luxembourg, and France to connect three cities—unofficially considered the capitals of the European Union—which host six of the seven institutions of the European Union: Brussels, Luxembourg, and Strasbourg. The project would upgrade rail lines from Brussels to Luxembourg (city) to Baudrecourt, France and utilize the LGV Est (opened in July 2016) between Baudrecourt and Strasbourg. EuroCap-Rail is a priority project among the Trans-European Transport Networks.
Construction never started, but almost €100 million was allocated to improve the existing railway line between Luxembourg and Brussels.[clarification needed] That proved little use: the journey now takes almost an hour longer than in the 1980s.[3][dubious – discuss]
The Belgian plan, part of the Next Generation EU recovery package, includes planned upgrades to the existing line 162 (Namur - Luxembourg border), such as increasing speeds to 160 km/h, protection against falling rocks and station modernisation. In 2024, Brussels - Luxembourg trains should reach their destination within two hours.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Priority Project 28". Innovation And Networks Executive Agency. European Commission. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "Eurocap-Rail: Descriptif du projet et intérêt pour le Luxembourg" (in French). Département des transports (Luxembourg). Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "Hogesnelheidslijnen in EU vaak financieel drama" (in Dutch). NOS. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "Het spoor: veiliger, toegankelijker én betrouwbaarder". NEXT GEN BELGIUM (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-08-30.
External links
edit- Project page on the European Commission's website
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