The EMR Connect project essentially aims to improve cross-border mobility and create a stronger network within the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion (EMR). In the public transport sector in particular, numerous barriers still exist which, despite the improvements that have already been made, hamper international accessibility. Hence, cross-border public transport faces both new and existing challenges in the fields of ticketing, pricing, infrastructure and the respective transport services. The aim, is therefore to avoid creating new barriers, to systematically remove current obstacles and to improve cross-border mobility for EMR citizens, visitors and businesses step-by-step. In the “Digitalisation in ticketing and passenger information” division, the partners will take on the interoperable implementation of e-ticketing in order to prevent creating new barriers in cross-border public transport. The international use of e-ticketing presents a new problem for which highly innovative solutions must be found. In addition, purchasing tickets for cross-border travel should be made a lot easier for passengers by implementing our new sales solutions. Furthermore, radical improvements will be sought in the area of euro-regional passenger information, including the integration of dynamic timetables for travel within the EMR. The new technologies are developed and implemented, taking into account the innovative approaches that already exist within the project. This would, therefore, make the EMR the first region in Europe to use interoperable e-ticketing. In the area of “Infrastructure and Services”, the project partners want to tackle the issue of interoperability within the euro-regional infrastructure together. For regional rail transport, this means the approval and application of cross-border interoperable vehicles to improve cross-border links. For cross-border bus transport, preliminary studies on the future use of electric buses shall be carried out first. Building on this and in line with suitable investment, interoperable charging stations for the buses should be created and the first cross-border bus lines can be electrified. The EMR would then be the first region in Europe to have tackled cross-border electrified bus routes. With regards to establishing a cross-border e-bike rental system in the EMR as a multimodal supplement to the cross-border public transport, a suitable rental station should be set up and piloted in Parkstad Limburg. In the “Tariffs” section, the launch of the new Limburg regional concession (2016-2031) should be used to achieve uniform and consistent tariffs for cross-border travel between Aachen and Limburg (Netherlands). Moreover, euro-regional offers for school classes will be developed, as well as great deals for students. The field of “Networking within the knowledge and educational region of the EMR” is a cross-section oriented work package in which the partners lead a series of lectures and workshops on the subject of cross-border public transport for university students within the EMR, thereby stimulating cross-border mobility, increasing the networks between the EMR universities and harnessing the creativity of the young people for the project partners to use. Based on this, a euro-regional think-tank is to be established which shall sustainably deal with issues and challenges of the euro-regional mobility. In addition, a knowledge exchange regarding best practice approaches is to be held between practitioners (such as transport planners or local government employees) in workshops in alternating EMR locations. By implementing the measures outlined above, cross-border transport in the tri-border region will be sustainably and comprehensively strengthened, thereby increasing its attractiveness to EMR citizens, visitors and companies. In so doing, the political target of strengthening public transport in intermodal comparison in a special way is satisfied. What is more, new technologies, that at present do not exist, are being developed and implemented.
