Brussels, 03/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has approved funding for half the costs of the study to be carried out up to October 2008 on the impact of the Main Railway Goods Transport Axis (FERRMED). Directorate General Transport (DG TREN) has made €1.3 million from the EU's 2006 budget available to the association. DG TREN has said that it is very satisfied with the results of the project, which plans to implement the railway network (the railway line and interconnection systems with other transport infrastructure linked to this axis, such as the main ports) linking Stockholm to Algeciras in Spain. The study will be launched in July 2007 after the private consortium in charge of carrying out the study has been selected. It will analyse the repercussions of the Main Axis on the regions it will be crossing from three different angles: 1) an analysis into supply and demand for different modes of transport will seek to determine the most effective way for working out how intermodal traffic is shared out, with emphasis on railways; 2) a technical analysis will examine questions on logistics; 3) a socio-economic and environmental feasibility study will provide information on costs, investment and expectations concerning economic, social and environmental benefits. The results of the study will be out in October 2008. Speaking on behalf of the Commission at a press conference on Wednesday 2 May, Vincente Luque Cabal from DG TREN underlined the fact that the study project proposed by FERRMED was, “directed very well” towards Commission expectations, as it envisages the possibility of integrating new axes in 30 priority Trans-European networks (TEN-T) by 2010 when the drafting of the progress report on this theme has been completed. Mr Cabal explained that “the FERRMED study can introduce essential elements for 2010”. Details of the project can be accessed at: (http://www.ferrmed.com ). (aby)