“Every urban node needs a SUMP by 2027” (Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan) And These 431 nodes have to submit data. This largely makes sense, but the devil is going to be in the detail here. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Certain criteria that each urban node has a multimodal transport “hub” by 2030. Not the worst idea. Is the Commission going to check it happens? Each has to have a multimodal freight terminal too. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Want to know if your city is an urban node? Here’s the PDF list: https://transport.ec.europa.eu/document/download/40f52207-d2d1-4cbf-9392-b61f37309ee8_en?filename=52022PC0384-ANNEX-2.pdf #ConnectingEuropeDays

Catherine Trautmann is a very experienced politician, now a TEN-T coordinator. But she still reads a speech *on a panel*. A panel ought to be a conversation. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Trautmann?wprov=sfti1# #ConnectingEuropeDays

I thought the rail freight stuff was abstract yesterday. This TEN-T and urban nodes stuff today is worse. I’m totally lost. #ConnectingEuropeDays

We are proud to be an urban node, and won a prize for our urban mobility plan says Elke Van Den Brandt, Minister of Mobility and Public Works of Brussels. But can Brussels better join itself up with others? Like improving sustainable links to Germany for example?
#ConnectingEuropeDays

Give Elke Van Den Brandt her due: urban mobility in Brussels is massively improving. It’s so much better to cycle here than it used to be. #ConnectingEuropeDays

There must be some middle ground between broad brush political rhetoric and a soup of acronyms from officials. We’re definitely not finding it here though. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Some dude just tried to pitch hyperloop to me. “I don’t believe in hyperloop” I told him. I’m pretty sure I’m about the worst person he could have found. #ConnectingEuropeDays

To explain: I can buy a through ticket from Berlin to any rail station in NL, BE, CH, AT, CZ, DK. Some even in PL, HU, SI, HR. And *pretty much none in France*. Because SNCF makes it next to impossible. #ConnectingEuropeDays

Ha. Now someone from the bus industry saying there are few complaints about their industry. It could perhaps be that your hope is so low if you take a bus? Sorry! #ConnectingEuropeDays

I also think the premise completing TEN-T will improve passenger *rights* is incorrect. It might improve the passenger experience (speed, reliability). But things will still go wrong and operators will still be malevolent. #ConnectingEuropeDays

WHAT? SNCF now saying high speed rail is more unreliable in Spain since new operators entered the market. 1) Isn’t it SNCF operated OUIGO that’s worst? And 2) isn’t it because there are now more trains running? #ConnectingEuropeDays

Now SNCF - whose network is only about 4% ERTMS equipped - is defending ERTMS as a passenger benefit. Ok. #ConnectingEuropeDays