Transport networks for peripheral regions

Owing to technological developments and current processes of economic integration, the peripheral regions in Western Europe are facing great problems with regard to industrial development and concomitant necessity to provide adequate goods transport services. These problems are presented and analyzed in the paper from a conceptual viewpoint. On the basis of the cases of Scandinavian Link and Nordic LInk, considerations are made on what the regions are able to do to solve these problems. It is necessary to launch an integrated research and planning program to identify efficient transport solutions at the regional level. Furthermore, the regional decision makers will have to commit themselves to the role of initiators of the implementation process. This paper focuses on the following two issues which, hitherto, have been neglected in scientific literature: (a) Why is it so difficult a task to develop transport systems connecting regions which are separated by national borders? (b) Several peripheral regions are dependent on ferry links as essential elements of the overall transport network. Why do ferry operators not provide an adequate ferry service under the present market economic conditions?