Last updated: December 1st 2025

Trans-European Network for Transport

The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) regulation guides EU transport infrastructure policy, promoting an efficient, multimodal network. Revised in 2023, it supports the Green Deal goal to reduce transport emissions by 90%, enhances connectivity, increases system resilience, and encourages a shift to sustainable transport modes. 

The network comprises railways, inland waterways, short sea shipping routes and road linking urban nodes, maritime and inland ports, airports, and multimodal terminals. High and common infrastructures standards are set for each transport mode to foster a common European network. It is designed according to an objective methodology, setting different layers: 

  • The core network includes the most important connections linking major cities and nodes and must be completed by 2030. 
  • The comprehensive network connects all regions of the EU to the core network and needs to be completed by 2050. 
  • The revised TEN-T, adopted in December 2023 introduces a third layer, the extended core network, to be added as an intermediate milestone and completed by 2040.  

On top of these layers, nine European Transport Corridors and two horizontal priorities were created to support the completion of the TEN-T network, and a European Coordinator is appointed for each corridor and each horizontal priority, overseeing the progress of the corridor and acting as an ‘ambassador’ of the TEN-T policy, fostering cooperation among Member States and focusing on cross-border issues. 

The revised regulation requires Member States to align their national transport and investment plans with the EU's TEN-T network objectives. They must ensure these plans are consistent with the work plans of European Coordinators for the nine Transport Corridors and share adopted national plans or programmes with the Commission. 

In July 2025, the European Commission allocated €2.8 billion to 94 transport projects to enhance sustainable mobility across Europe; all under the aegis of the updated TEN-T framework. Most funds are directed toward rail (around 77%), but ports and inland waterways were also targeted. Upgrades include shore-side electricity for ports in several countries to cut ship emissions, construction of icebreakers in Estonia, Finland, and Sweden to reinforce submarine cable resilience, and digital traffic systems in France and Spain for safer, more efficient shipping. Inland waterway improvements feature Rhine upgrades in France and increased digitalisation in Belgium.

 

What’s in it for hydrogen?

The TEN-T regulation provides the basis for the implementation of other files crucial for the deployment of alternative fuels in EU transport, namely: 

  • the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation targets for deployment of hydrogen refuelling stations are based on the TEN-T core network and identified urban nodes; 
  • FuelEU Maritime targets for mandatory on-shore power supply of ships apply to ports identified on the TEN-T core network as well. 

The TEN-T guidelines set funding eligibility for the CEF Transport programme, including AFIF, which supports hydrogen refuelling stations. The revised definition of urban nodes now includes areas with populations of 100,000 or more, raising the number of nodes from 82 to 430. This change will expand hydrogen station deployment across Europe and make more urban nodes eligible for CEF Transport and AFIF funding. 

The revised TEN-T guidelines now include ports handling 500,000 to 1 million tonnes of cargo in the comprehensive network if they contribute to diversifying EU energy supplies, such as producing green hydrogen. This allows smaller energy-focused ports to access EU funding for infrastructure development. 

Exemptions from electrification on certain railway routes, such as those connecting freight terminals in ports and airports or serving isolated networks, allow for the use of hydrogen trains where electrification is impractical. This offers an alternative to diesel trains in challenging areas. The regulation prioritises zero-emission mobility and emphasises the deployment of alternative fuels across the network. 

 

Links to Legislation and additional information:

Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) website

TEN-T Regulation