The EU realises that the neglect of the rail sector has been a mistake. Governments in the EU-15 countries have for decades given priority to investment in road networks. Actually, the overall length of the motorway network tripled, while the rail network in the same period shrunk. Moreover, in past decades taxation policies worked in favour of the road transport sector, which resulted in a dramatic increase in CO_2 emissions. Governments have now recognised the mistakes made in the past and are now giving priority to investments in rail infrastructure. Of the 30 priority projects of the Trans European Network for Transport (TEN-T), which will be supported by the EU, 21 projects concern rail infrastructure. Moreover, the Planco institute forecasted in 2003 that in the coming years, investments in rail infrastructure would be more than double those in road infrastructure.
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