[en] Efficient mobility is an essential driving force for the development of cross-border (CB) regions. The different settings and visions of neighbouring CB entities may lead to unsatisfactory transport connections across the border. This case study of a CB connection focuses on this issue and highlights, by means of a comparative analysis, how the differences in six perspectives (the economic context; urban and regional planning in Belgium and the Netherlands; the structure of the rail network; barriers in the exploitation of the railway; the current travel demand by rail; and the governance, public planning and policy context) lead to an unsatisfactory rail connection between Liège (Belgium) and Maastricht (the Netherlands). Based on the results of the analysis, we suggest reinforcing cross-mobility connections through several tools such as (i) the development of a common governance, by including economic and social stakeholders; (ii) the development of joint technical projects in relation to the infrastructure, communication systems and the rolling stock; and (iii) the strengthening of flows between the two sides of the border, especially the home-work flows. [fr] Une mobilité efficace est une facteur de développement des régions transfrontalières. Les différents contextes et visions des entités transfrontalières voisines peuvent mener à une offre de transport peut satisfaisante de part et d'autre des frontières. Ce cas d'étude d'une connexion transfrontalière fait le point sur ces enjeux, à l'aide d'une analyse comparative sur six aspects (contexte économique, politique d'aménagement du territoire en Belgique et aux Pays-Bas, la demande locale actuelle pour le transport ferroviaire, la structure du réseau ferroviaire et la gouvernance locale). Sur la base des résultats de l'analyse, nous suggérons le renforcement des connexions transfrontalières à travers plusieurs outils tels que le développement d'une gouvernance commune, incluant les acteurs économiques et sociaux; le développement de projets techniques communs concernant l'infrastructure, les systèmes de sécurité et le matériel roulant; et le renforcement des flux de part et d'autre de la frontière, particulièrement les flux domicile-travail.
Research center :
Lepur : Centre de Recherche sur la Ville, le Territoire et le Milieu rural - ULiège Sphères - SPHERES UEE - Urban and Environmental Engineering - ULiège
Disciplines :
Regional & inter-regional studies Special economic topics (health, labor, transportation...) Human geography & demography
Author, co-author :
Wilmotte, Pierre-François ✱; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Service de géographie économique (ECOGEO)
Christmann, Nathalie ✱; Université de Liège - ULiège > Lepur(Centre rech.sur la Ville,le Territ.et le Milieu rural)
Lambotte, Jean-Marc ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Lepur(Centre rech.sur la Ville,le Territ.et le Milieu rural)
Cools, Mario ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > Transports et mobilité
✱ These authors have contributed equally to this work.
Language :
English
Title :
Opportunities for reinforcing cross-border railway connections: the case of the Liège (Belgium) - Maastricht (the Netherlands) connection
Alternative titles :
[fr] Les opportunités de renforcement d'une liaison ferroviaire transfrontalière: le cas de la connection entre Liège (Belgique) et Maastricht (Pays-Bas)
Publication date :
2020
Journal title :
European Planning Studies
ISSN :
0965-4313
eISSN :
1469-5944
Publisher :
Taylor and Francis, United Kingdom
Special issue title :
Cross-Border Cooperation in Europe Networks – Governance – Territorialisation
Volume :
28
Issue :
1
Pages :
105-124
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
Interreg EMR - Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhin [NL] Interreg Grande Région CPDT - Conférence Permanente du Développement Territorial [BE]
Commentary :
Please refer to the article published by Taylor&Francis in European Planning Studies (see DOI)
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