Study: European east-west freight traffic to double by 2030

European east-west freight traffic will double between 2005 and 2030, according to a study recently carried out by Basel (Switzerland)-based ProgTrans and published by the Berlin (Germany)-based Institute for Mobility Research. The fastest growth is predicted for the period up to 2015. ProgTrans director Stephan Kritzinger emphasised that “we would actually need to build an additional three-lane motorway on the east-west axis to cope with the increase in volumes.” The burgeoning goods flows from east to west will benefit German exports and domestic consumption the most, compared with other western countries, such as France or the Netherlands. Kritzinger estimated that road would account for 70% of west-east traffic in 2030, compared with 67% in 2005. His prognosis for rail was 25%, along with 5% for inland navigation. In the other direction, he said that rail will account for about 19%, which will be due to the vast distances to be traversed in Russia in particular. In this direction he estimated that road would account for only 35%, mineral oil and gas pipelines for 42%, and inland barges for 4.2%