Trade and transport between Italy and EC partners are increasing regularly, not without problems: the Alps are a natural barrier which is accessible on a few axes, part of the traffic transits in two non-EC countries, with their proper transport policy, and infrastructure investments can only be the result of long term planification. Efforts to improve Alp crossing are envisaged in France, Switzerland and Austria. This paper presents the results of a study on behalf of the French railways (SNCF) aiming at analysing effects of various scenarios of new rail infrastructures in France (a tunnel at Modane)and in Switzerland (the Gotthard tunnel). Simulation makes use of a European approach of the situation and results are quite different whether they are viewed for individual countries or for Europe as a whole.
Samenvatting