Sustainable, convenient, fast: a cross-border vision
TRANSIT creates a more closely networked public transport system in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine
Whether by bike, car or train - people in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine move across the borders of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands every day as a matter of course. Even if there are still challenges in cross-border public transport, many barriers have already been removed in recent years. TRANSIT aims to expand seamless and user-friendly public transport in the border triangle and implement further improvements to cross-border mobility services. Under the leadership of AVV, twelve project partners from the three countries in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine are working together on innovative solutions.
A strong network for better local transport
TRANSIT stands for "Transnational Regional Administration Network for Sustainable Integrated Transport" and aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation between stakeholders in local transport by developing sustainable governance structures, thereby achieving a tangible improvement in mobility services in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. The project is being implemented as part of the Interreg Meuse-Rhine program (NL-BE-DE). The consortium has a budget of around 3 million euros at its disposal, half of which comes from EU funds, with the NRW partners receiving an additional 30 percent of the costs from the state of NRW. As the lead partner, the AVV has a budget of around 900,000 euros at its disposal, 20 percent of which comes from its own funds. The project will run for three years (2025 to 2027).
At the heart of the project is a strong and diverse partner network: in addition to AVV, go.Rheinland, the City of Aachen, ASEAG, FH Aachen, SNCB, TEC, Arriva, ZLSM, ITEM Maastricht and other mobility and research institutions from the region are also involved.
"It's about the right people knowing each other, building trust - and pulling together."
From SPNV to AI: measures with a sustainable impact
The project partners are working in four structured work packages:
- joint: strengthening the network of stakeholders for more efficient cooperation in the area of administration and planning of cross-border public transport services
- forward-looking: feasibility studies on cross-border rail connections and location concepts for possible tourist mobility hubs. Traffic flows are recorded and scenarios for future cross-border mobility options are developed.
- digital: Development of an AI-supported, voice-controlled information system that integrates timetables and leisure activities in multiple languages - a step towards greater accessibility
- evaluated: The implementation of the various measures will be analyzed and monitored over the course of the project in order to test their effectiveness.
Successful kick-off under the railroad viaduct
In May 2025, the TRANSIT project celebrated its official kick-off in Aachen - symbolically under the Burtscheid railroad viaduct, a historic structure for cross-border mobility. Numerous project participants and guests from the Euregio and Brussels were on hand to give the official starting signal. The aim of TRANSIT is to make public transport easier and better for passengers across national borders.
TRANSIT - at a glance:
- twelve partners from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands
- Three-year project duration (01/2025 - 12/2027)
- 3.14 million euros budget, of which 50percentEU, 30percentstate of NRW
- Lead partner: AVV
- Measures: Strengthening cross-border governance structures, creating new mobility options in the border region, developing digital tools for more and easier cross-border mobility, evaluation
