Press Release: New priority section of the trans-European transport network completed: the Betuweroute starts operating between the Netherlands and Germany

On 16 June 2007 about 160 km of dedicated rail freight line will start moving freights between the port of Rotterdam and Germany at a speed of 120 km/h. Through this new railroad, an average of 160 trains per day is expected to cross the Dutch-German border, carrying around 37 million tons of freight a year. "Today's celebrations mark a major milestone in the completion of the trans-European transport network. By contributing to this important project, the European Commission has supported not only the revitalisation of rail transport in Europe but the overall development of a region", said Jacques Barrot, Commission Vice-President in charge of transport, welcoming the first example of railway track in Europe solely dedicated to freight transport.