3. Outlook

Transport systems bring together different types of players, with different rhythms and time horizons. Operators react to the rhythm of a short economic situation, while the construction of an infrastructure network is spread over decades.

Long-term thinking is based, first and foremost, on hindsight; even if the continuation of past trends is technically or financially impossible or socially unacceptable. If the increase in transport flows cannot be sustained indefinitely, then a new form of regulation will be needed, based on less growth in mobility and different rules for the use of available capacity. It remains to be seen what choices are open in this respect, and what initiatives need to be taken to move towards the preferred option.