Urban Nodes and the freight sector: Key challenges and opportunities

The EU’s trans-European transport network policy (the TEN-T policy) is a key instrument for the development of coherent, efficient, multimodal, and high-quality transport infrastructure across the EU. As Europe seeks to develop smarter and more sustainable mobility, the network will be critical to achieving economic and environmental targets.

Over the last several years, TEN-T legislation has been undergoing revision, and is expected to enter into force in early 2024. By 2030 the core network is expected to be completed, with the conclusion of an extended core network by 2040, and the comprehensive network finalised by 2050. This streamlined and integrated approach to rail, inland waterway and road transit will transform European passenger and freight movement, eliminating the current bottlenecks at national borders.

New legislation places greater emphasis on "urban nodes" - urban areas where the transport infrastructure of the trans-European transport network is connected with other elements of this infrastructure. It strives for improved integration of the 424 urban nodes across Europe, aiming to strengthen urban nodes and innovation to enhance the capacity, sustainability, and competitiveness of European urban transport.

From 4-6 October 2023, Urban Mobility Days heads to the Spanish city of Seville, to explore- amongst a variety of key topics- the critical issues surrounding urban nodes and what this means for Europe’s cities and regions.

To provide a taster of what is to come in Seville, one speaker from the Urban Nodes session, Yanying li, Head of Program and Knowledge Management at ALICE (a European Association gathering more than 150 members including all types of stakeholders in the logistics sector), and co-leader of the sub-group on urban logistics of the Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM) - explains some recent developments and why urban nodes are important:

One of the core themes ALICE works on is: “well synchronised, smart and seamless network, supported by corridors and hubs”. Why is the TEN-T network and urban nodes important for this?

Well synchronised smart and seamless networks are key to decarbonise the logistics sector and increase the efficiency of logistics, thus strengthening competitiveness of the European transport sector and beyond. The objectives of the TEN-T policies for 2030 and 2050 will accelerate the transformation needed in the transport system to achieve our vision of zero emission logistics by 2050.

Strengthening urban nodes in the TEN-T network will ensure that they address current and future challenges the logistics sector will face and help the sector to adopt more efficient and sustainable transport solutions.

We often hear about urban nodes in the context of passenger travel, but can you give a brief insight into how logistics are affected?

Urban nodes often serve as connecting points between the different transport modes and between long distance traffic and the regional and local transport networks. Therefore, urban nodes play an important role in interconnection and interoperability of national, regional, and local transport networks. Optimal synergy between long-distance and regional and local traffic flows in urban nodes will reduce the costs of logistics by increasing seamless transport of freight with all transport modes.

What work has ALICE been doing regarding urban nodes and TEN-T?

ALICE and its members have been working on the development and implementation of innovative solutions to achieve seamless, smart, and sustainable logistics operations and implement multi-modal freight transport, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the logistics sector while increasing efficiency and reducing the cost. Our members have been working on a set of recommendations to EC, national and regional governments and industry on data sharing, application of zero emission vehicles, need for research and innovations as well as support for the implementation of innovative solutions. Through our strategic partnership with POLIS, and cooperation with C40 (Cities Climate Leadership Group), we have supported dialogue between cities and businesses to ensure that businesses and cities can thrive together.    

Legislation on the TEN-T is currently under revision, and urban nodes look to be given more prominence in the future. How will this support more sustainable freight?

We call for giving urban nodes the same importance as other priorities in the TEN-T regulation since congestion in urban areas often decreases overall performance of the network. We call for increasing cohesion between long-distance and local traffic through dedicated freight connecting nodes and spaces. Peri-urban and regional areas surrounding cities should be considered as part of urban nodes as such areas are important for freight transport. While many cities implement low emission zones, we call for dedicated urban spaces for usage by logistics operators that can also be used for implementing charging facilities.

The Urban Mobility Days panel will bring together public and private sector stakeholders. This is something ALICE is well versed in (ALICE recently launched a joint guide with POLIS for advancing together towards zero-emission urban logistics by 2030, bringing together local authorities, national governments and European institutions, and the freight sector). How do you feel this dialogue between the public and private sectors is progressing? And how could it be applied to urban nodes?

To achieve the objectives of the TEN-T regulations, we will have to bring together public and private sectors stakeholders to implement policy measures and infrastructure that can benefit all stakeholders. Dialogue between the public and private sectors is key to ensure that we achieve zero emission goals together. We have observed gaps in needs between the public and private sectors, e.g. consolidation centres and charging facilities.

What are you most looking forward to at Urban Mobility Days?

I am looking forward to joining the panel and discussing key issues on urban nodes of the TEN-T networks and ensure that the public and private sectors can thrive together to achieve our climate goals and deliver a sustainable future for future generations.

Find out more about Urban Mobility Days here: Programme (europa.eu)(link is external)