An astonishing £449bn plan aims to connect 400 major EU cities with airports,  railway stations and terminals by joining nine major roads.

Trans-European Transport Network, known as TEN-T, is a mega-project which aims to create a “sustainable and smart” transport network across the continent by combining various transport modes in a single journey within the European transport system.

The Regulation also addresses climate change challenges and military mobility on the TEN-T network.

Plans for this revolutionary network have been in the pipeline since the European Commission adopted the first action plans on trans-European networks in 1990 with the guidelines being initially adopted on July 23 1996.

Last year major steps were taken as the TEN-T regulatory framework agreement between the European Parliament and the European Council was approved by the European Commission.

The new plan sets mandatory goals, such as having all trains in the network reach 160 km/h or faster by 2040 and putting in place a single European signalling system.

All 424 cities on the network are required to develop Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans to promote zero-emission mobility, as well as increasing and improving public transport. 

To improve connectivity and encourage rail transport over domestic flights, it also requires airports that handle more than 12 million passengers annually to be connected by long-distance rail.

The ambitious plans for the European transport infrastructure also says that by 2040, safe and secure parking areas will be developed on the core and extended core road network, every 150 km on average, ensuring safety and appropriate working conditions for professional drivers.