Caspian Energy (CE): Baden-Württemberg is in the heart of Europe. How would you evaluate the general development of Baden-Württemberg's transport infrastructure in the field of domestic and global transport operations? 

Winfried Hermann, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Baden-Württemberg: Baden-Württemberg has an excellent transport infrastructure, and cross-regional routes are also largely well developed. The state has just over 1,000 kilometres of motorway and roughly 26,500 kilometres of national, regional and local roads,the classified network being rounded off by 46,500 kilometres of roads maintained by municipalities. New roads are only likely to be constructed in Baden-Württemberg as an exception; the state government is focussing on developing and maintaining the existing network. We aim to use roads in a smarter, more effective way with new management technology, for example to manage congestion and roadworks.

The rail network in Baden-Württemberg is currently more than 3,500 kilometres long. The state government intends to improve the rail system and is pushing forward various development and electrification projects. The most important is on the Rhine Valley line, linking Mannheim, Karlsruhe and Basel; by far our most important goods rail link, taking freight from Genoa to Rotterdam. The aim is for these trips to be made by rail in as environmentally friendly manner as possible. Last year was a major breakthrough in our work to bring the route into unison with the needs of the people and the landscape. 

In the case of waterways, the Rhine and Neckar are well equipped for shipping between Mannheim and Plochingen. We also have commercial airports in Stuttgart, Karlsruhe (Baden-Baden) and Friedrichshafen.