Vital European routes put in danger

The fire in Switzerland's St Gotthard road tunnel on 23 October 2001 has great implications for transport across Europe. With the Mont Blanc tunnel still closed following a fire in March 1999, it is becoming increasingly difficult for north-south traffic to reach the northern triangle of Italy, one of the richest regions in Europe. The remaining link through the Alps is via Austria's Brenner pass but the European Commission is in dispute with Austria which limits both the number of lorries that cross the country and their emissions. Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Fisheries, told the European Parliament on 25 October 2001 that it was an absolute priority to put into service two rail axes, from Lyons-Turin and through the Brenner pass. Italy and France have agreed to proceed with a rail tunnel on the Lyons-Turin route, but this will not be completed until at least 2015.