point (a): the proposed route connects four Member States, and Serbia;

point (b): the implementation of the proposed principal route of the corridor

would for most of its length utilise lines that are, as regards the Member States concerned, part of the TEN-T core network, and, as regards Serbia, the indicative core network (3). The other sections envisaged for implementing the principal route are part of the comprehensive network. In addition, the central part of RNE corridor C11 includes the main route of the proposed rail freight corridor from Salzburg to the Bulgarian/Turkish border;

point (e): the proposed corridor will complement the existing rail freight corridors in the South-Eastern European region, notably by providing access to regions so far not covered by the network of rail freight corridors. It will also provide an alternative routing to two existing rail freight corridors, namely the rail freight corridors Orient/East-Mediterranean and Rhine Danube, which will enhance the options for cross-corridor contingency management based on additional diversionary routes, thereby enhancing the resilience of rail freight in particular in the case of major disruptions;

point (f): the route proposed is a key rail axis for freight in the Western Balkans region. In the past, significantly higher volumes than the estimated current freight volumes on the most heavily used sections were shipped along the corridor. There is indeed an important potential to develop rail freight transport, that is to say, modal shift or development of overall transport volumes, for the two submarkets the Alpine-Western Balkan rail freight corridor can serve: on the one hand, freight transport within the regions directly served by the corridor and between these regions and other parts of Europe, and, on the other hand, freight transport transiting the corridor on its entire length. In particular, the corridor can serve the noticeable demand for intermodal rail freight services between the Union and Turkey;

point (g): the corridor will create the basis for better interconnections between Member States and European third countries since it will include Serbia and facilitate the connection with Turkey at the Bulgarian-Turkish border, providing a direct link between Western/Central Europe and Turkey;

point (h): potential applicants were consulted during summer 2017 on the establishment of the Alpine-Western Balkan rail freight corridor. 20 companies expressed their support, as documented in Annex III to the letter of intent. Among those undertakings 13 were railway undertakings, three intermodal operators, three freight forwarders and one vehicle owner;

point (i): the proposed corridor provides direct access to major terminals in the Member States concerned. Intermodal interfaces with the Danube and the Sava rivers are provided in different locations. In addition, access to sea ports, in particular the ports of Koper and Rijeka, is provided through the connection with other rail freight corridors.