Discussion Papers 2008.
Socio-Economic Analysis of the Carpathian Area 89-92. p.
10 Border crossing in the Carpathian area
State borders are „scars” on the cheeks of the Earth. They are obstacles for spatial
movement of commodities, services, people, ideas and information. Therefore,
compared to other regions border regions are – usually – in disadvantageous
situation. Borders always represent a kind of division, but this dividedness can be
of very different scale. Some borders are very easy to cross, some others represent
a very serious obstacle of movement. This dividing role depends on:
the number, type, capacity, distance and spatial distribution of border cross-
ings;
the frequency of cross-border public transport (trains, buses, ships);
the length and nature of administrative border-crossing procedures (Passport
control and customs).
The Carpathian region is one of the European areas with the densest network
of state borders. It is a continental area, with relatively small states and long land
borders. The length of borders in the region is nearly 5,000 km. In addition, these
borders belonged to the most guarded borders of Europe during the former “so-
cialist” period. A small part of them (the border of Austria to Czechoslovakia and
Hungary) was part of the Iron Curtain, but other borders – especially the borders
to the former Soviet Union – were not less strictly guarded. The number of border
crossings between the individual regions was not more than 2–3. Permission, to
cross the borders was a rare privilege for ordinary people.
The situation changed substantially after the change of the political and eco-
nomic system in 1989–1991. Gradually, more and more border-crossings were
opened, the administrative procedures of crossing the borderwere substantially
simplified and accelerated. Nevertheless, on some borders the number and density
of border crossings is still insufficient, and crossing the border still takes a long
time.
The table 18 below show the border-crossing situation on the borders in the
Carpathian region.
There are 147 road border crossings in the Carpathian region. However, only
55 – one third – out of the 147 can be used for border crossing without any limi-
tations. Some are open only for passenger traffic, or even only for citizens of the
two neighbouring countries. Others are not crossbar for buses. Some are not
crossbar in the evening and at night. Some border-crossings – not listed in the
table – are open only on special holidays. Considering these restrictions and limi-
tations, the density of border crossings on some borders is still very low, the aver-
age distance between them is 150–180 km and there are only 2–6 crossings on
long borders. (Only as a reminder: the borders of France, after the Schengen
agreement can be crossed on 4,000 places!)
Border Crossing in the Carpathian Area.
In: Socio-Economic Analysis of the Carpathian Area.
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2008. 89-92. p. Discussion Papers, Special
90
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE CARPATHIAN AREA
Table 18
Road border-crossings (2005)
Border section
Length of Number of
Average International Their aver-
Crossings
Crossings
Crossings
Crossings
the border road border
distance
crossings age distance
only for
only for
only for with limited
(km)
crossings
between without any
passenger
passenger citizens of
opening
border
limitations
traffic
traffic
the neigh-
hours
crossings,
(also buses) (no buses)
bouring
(km)
countries
Poland–Slovakia
541 16 34 3
180 8 7 7 –
Poland–Czech
770 28 28 10 77 11 7 2 2
Republic
Czech Republic–
252 16 16 6 42
n/a 1 – –
Slovakia
Slovakia–Hungary
677 16 42 7 96 2 2
n/a 6
Slovakia–Austria
91 4 22 2 44 1 – – 2
Slovakia–Ukraine
97 2 49 1 97 – – – –
Hungary–Ukraine
103 5 21 2 52 3
n/a 2 2
Hungary–Romania
443 10 44 3
147 5 – 2 1
Czech Republic–
466 16 34 7 67 – – – 9
Austria
Hungary–Austria
366 12 31 6 62 5
n/a 2 7
Romania–Ukraine
531 9 59 3
177 – – – –
Romania–Serbia
476 8 60 3
159 4 4 4
n/a
Hungary–Serbia
151 5 30 2 75 3
n/a 2 2
Total
4,964 147 34 55 90 42 21 21 31
Source: Author’s construction.
Border Crossing in the Carpathian Area.
In: Socio-Economic Analysis of the Carpathian Area.
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2008. 89-92. p. Discussion Papers, Special
TRANSPORT IN THE CARPATHIANS
91
The situation is not better in the case of railway border-crossings either (Table
19).
The number of railway border crossings is 64 in the region. But again, only
one third (22) can be regarded as “normal” international border crossings. In 19,
there are only one or two 3 train pairs per day (there are crossings where the fre-
quency is one train pair per week!). There are crossings that are limited only to
passenger traffic, or to freight transport. Finally, there are 19 crossings that are
closed for the time being: there is no traffic at all. The average distance between
“all service” rail border crossings in the region is 226 km, but there are border
sections, where this average distance is more than 500 km!
This situation is hardly understandable, because even the present poor infra-
structure would allow the establishment of more crossings without any significant
investment. 100 years ago borders were different, regions that are now divided by
a border, constituted single economic regions with relatively dense road and rail-
way networks. According to the estimations, about half of those roads and railway
lines that were constructed before World War I. and cross actual borders now are
not used for border crossing. Many of them were fully dismantled, others are
closed for traffic. No doubt, economic relations between the regions, now on the
two sides of the border became less intensive and therefore the operation of trains
became uneconomical. Railway lines were dismantled also inside the countries.
But the accession of most Carpathian countries to the EU will certainly enhance
economic relations and some of the old border-crossing lines could be recon-
structed
Border Crossing in the Carpathian Area.
In: Socio-Economic Analysis of the Carpathian Area.
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2008. 89-92. p. Discussion Papers, Special
92
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE CARPATHIAN AREA
Table 19
Rail border-crossings (2005)
Border section
Length of Number of
Average International Their aver-
Low (less No passen- No freight
Closed
the border rail border
distance
crossings age distance
than 3)
ger traffic
transport
lines
(km)
crossings
between
with more
trains per
border
than two
day
crossings,
train pairs
(km)
per day
Poland–Slovakia
541
3 180 1 541 1 1
n/a 0
Poland–Czech
770
5 154 1 770 1 3 n/a 8
Republic
Czech Republic–
252
7 36
6 42 1
n/a 3 0
Slovakia
Slovakia–Hungary 677
9
75
3
226
4
2
n/a
0
Slovakia–Austria
91
3 30
2 46
n/a
n/a
n/a 1
Slovakia–Ukraine
97
2 49
1 97
n/a 1
n/a
n/a
Hungary–Ukraine
103
2 52 1 103
n/a 1 n/a 0
Hungary–Romania 443
7
63
1
443
4
n/a
n/a
2
Czech Republic–
466 5 93 2 233 2 n/a n/a 1
Austria
Hungary–Austria 366 7
52 1
366
3 n/a n/a
1
Romania–Ukraine
531
5 106 1 531 1 2 n/a 1
Romania–Serbia 476 7
68 1 476 1 n/a n/a
5
Hungary–Serbia 151 2
76 1 151 1 n/a n/a n/a
Total 4964
64
78
22
226
19
10
3
19
Source: Author’s composition.