What's the use of E numbers?

Marcel Monterie

Last updated 4-9-05

  1. Introduction
  2. The rules
  3. Result table
  4. Stability
  5. Three-digit E numbers
  6. Why are road numbers so impopular?
  7. National routes
  • The Netherlands
  • Germany
  • Belgium
  • France
  • Summary
  • Some specific routes
  • Conclusions
  • TOTSO's
  • Destinations

    • Introduction


    The need for European road numbers is often questioned. Most people say they never use them, and since they are properly indicated on signs only in a few countries, they might as well be abandoned completely.

    An obvious criterion to judge the quality of a road numbering system is how many different road numbers are needed on highly frequented routes.
    It is clear that it might be expected that fewer E numbers are needed than national numbers, if only because national numbers almost always change at international borders. However, it is often said that E numbers follow very illogical routes, like the E25 Rotterdam - Utrecht - Eindhoven, or the E19, which links Amsterdam and Bruxelles but als Rotterdam, and a direct route via Utrecht is shorter. Because the E55 goes through the Czech Republic where there are not that many motorways yet, one would not folow it e.g. from Berlin to Venezia. It seems that such effects are exceptions. Also, the German A3 is covered by six E numbers, some of which have very strange detours (E41) or small sections which are added just to complete the system (E43) which make the E numbers seem ridiculous. The reason for this situation is that E numbers form a north-south / east-west grid, and the A3 just happens to be a diagonal road. One might say that this is the problem in the first place: most roads in Europe just do not run either north-south or east-west, and the grid system simply does not fit. When using both E and national numbers whenever they are convenient, this is no problem.


    Budapest 1987: New E numbers on a separate sign, the main sign still contains an old E number


    Remark: no exonyms are used in this document.

    The rules

    The table below contains the routes between 10 European capitals described in three ways:

    1. Using E routes where possible
    2. Using old E routes where possible
    3. Using only national numbers
    4. Using the least possible amount of different numbers
      In this case, national numbers are used if there is no difference in the number of road numbers used.

    The average number of different numbers per class is computed and compared.
    Old E numbers are included to see whether the more systematic numbering plan of the new system is disadvantageous in practice because standard main routes need more numbrs (which is often alleged).
    The number of border crossings one passes on each route is added to identify the component in the reduction due to the fact that E number do not change at borders, see also National routes.

    The following rules are applied:

    1. A nearly optimal route is taken, with preference for motorways.
      In some cases, signs may indicate another route for various reasons (though in almost all cases, there is no indication to the other city in the starting city anyway).
      Sometimes there is a direct E road between two cities, but the best route is different. Example: Amsterdam and Bruxelles are linked by the E19, but the best route is via E35, E25, E311, E312 and E19.
    2. In case there is a ring road around a city, routes only continue to this ring road.
      For example, the route from Amsterdam to Berlin is only via the A1, A30, B65 and A2. To reach the city centre, one has to follow the A10 and A115 (and A100), these are ignored.
    3. If part of the route is not an E road, as few as possible national numbers are used in the list of E numbers.
    4. When a route passes the same road number twice, it is counted only once.
      Examples: Amsterdam - Luxembourg E25, Amsterdam - Praha A6.
    5. The least number of national roads is used, regardless of whether these are signposted, since the objective is to determine whether national numbers and/or E numbers should be signposted in the first place.
      Example: Berlin - Bruxelles, via Antwerpen ring road, this is the A1, A12 and R1, only A1 is needed here.
    6. Different road numbers are counted separately, even if they form an integrated system.
      Examples: A2 and N2 in the Netherlands, A2 and route (DK)2 in Poland.
    7. The same road number in two countries is counted only once if the road number does not change at the border.
      Example: A4 in Germany and Poland.
      The route from Bern to Wien begins with the Swiss A1 and ends with the Austrian A1. These are counted separately.
    8. Roads opening in 2006 are taken into account.
    9. It is assumed that E routes follow motorways where applicable, even if signs might still follow an old route.
      Example: the E29 near Luxembourg is assumed be routed along the A13 rather than the N2.
    10. Old E numbers are transferred to new roads where roads were built after the old system was abolished. Otherwise the same rules are applied as to new E numbers.
      However, some routes are slightly adjusted to accomodate the old E numbers: on the route München - Innsbruck, the E6 is followed via Garmisch-Partenkirchen rather than the new E45 which corresponds to E11, E86 and E17.

    Result table

    from to   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 New E Old E national minimal border cr. New E plus border cr.
    Amsterdam Berlin E E231 E30                           2       1 3
    Amsterdam Berlin old E E35 E8                             2        
    Amsterdam Berlin national A1 A30 B61 A2                           4      
    Amsterdam Berlin minimal A1 E30                                 2    
    Amsterdam Bern E E35 E25                           2       2 4
    Amsterdam Bern old E E9 E36 E5 A67 E4                       5        
    Amsterdam Bern national A2 A12 A3 A67 A5 A2 A1                     7      
    Amsterdam Bern minimal E35 A1                                 2    
    Amsterdam Bruxelles E E35 E25 E311 E312 E19                     5       1 6
    Amsterdam Bruxelles old E E9 E37 E38 E10                         4        
    Amsterdam Bruxelles national A2 A27 A16 A1                           4      
    Amsterdam Bruxelles minimal A2 A27 E19                               3    
    Amsterdam Luxembourg E E35 E25 E311 E312 E19 E40 E411                 7       2 9
    Amsterdam Luxembourg old E E9 E37 E38 E10 E5 E40                     6        
    Amsterdam Luxembourg national A2 A27 A16 A1 R0 A4 A6                     7      
    Amsterdam Luxembourg minimal A2 A27 E19 E40 E411 E25                         6    
    Amsterdam Paris E E35 E25 E311 E312 E19                     5       2 7
    Amsterdam Paris old E E9 E37 E38 E10                         4        
    Amsterdam Paris national A2 A27 A16 A1 R0 A7 A2 A1                   8      
    Amsterdam Paris minimal A2 A27 E19                               3    
    Amsterdam Praha E E35 E42 E41 E43 E45 E56 E50                 7       2 9
    Amsterdam Praha old E E9 E36 E5 E12                         4        
    Amsterdam Praha national A2 A12 A3 A6 B85 A93 D5                     7      
    Amsterdam Praha minimal E35 A3 E50                               3    
    Amsterdam Roma E E35                             1       3 4
    Amsterdam Roma old E E9 E36 E5 A67 E4 E25 E6                   7        
    Amsterdam Roma national A2 A12 A3 A67 A5 A2 A9 A8 A50 A1               10      
    Amsterdam Roma minimal E35                                   1    
    Amsterdam Warszawa E E231 E30                           2       2 4
    Amsterdam Warszawa old E E35 E8                             2        
    Amsterdam Warszawa national A1 A30 B65 A2 A10 A12 DK2 A2                   8      
    Amsterdam Warszawa minimal A1 E30                                 2    
    Amsterdam Wien E E35 E42 E41 E43 E45 E56 E552 E60               8       2 10
    Amsterdam Wien old E E9 E36 E5                           3        
    Amsterdam Wien national A2 A12 A3 A8 A25 A1                       6      
    Amsterdam Wien minimal E35 A3 A8 A25 A1                           5    
    Berlin Bern E E51 E40 E451 E35 E25                     5       1 6
    Berlin Bern old E E6 E63 E70 E4                         4        
    Berlin Bern national A1 A2 A5 A7 A4 A9                       6      
    Berlin Bern minimal A1 A2 A5 E40 E51                           5    
    Berlin Bruxelles E E30 E34 E19                         3       1 4
    Berlin Bruxelles old E E8 E73 E3 E10                         4        
    Berlin Bruxelles national A2 A3 A40 A67 A21 A13 A1                     7      
    Berlin Bruxelles minimal E30 E34 E19                               3    
    Berlin Luxembourg E E51 E40 E44                         3       1 4
    Berlin Luxembourg old E E6 E63 E70 E4 A480 B429 B49 A3 A48 A1 A602 B52 A64 A1     14        
    Berlin Luxembourg national A9 A4 A7 A5 A480 B429 B49 A3 A48 A1 A602 B52 A64 A1       14      
    Berlin Luxembourg minimal E51 E40 E44                               3    
    Berlin Paris E E30 E34 E37 E31 E40 E42 E19                 7       2 9
    Berlin Paris old E E8 E73 E5 E41 E10                       5        
    Berlin Paris national A2 A1 A4 A44 A3 A15 A7 A2 A1                 9      
    Berlin Paris minimal A2 A1 E40 E42 E19                           5    
    Berlin Praha E E55                             1       1 2
    Berlin Praha old E E15                               1        
    Berlin Praha national A13 A4 A17 B170 8 D8                       6      
    Berlin Praha minimal E55                                   1    
    Berlin Roma E E51 E45 E35                         3       2 5
    Berlin Roma old E E6                               1        
    Berlin Roma national A9 A99 A8 A93 A12 A13 A22 A1                   8      
    Berlin Roma minimal E51 E45 E35                               3    
    Berlin Warszawa E E30                             1       1 2
    Berlin Warszawa old E E8                               1        
    Berlin Warszawa national A12 DK2 A2                             3      
    Berlin Warszawa minimal E30                                   1    
    Berlin Wien E E55 E59                           2       2 4
    Berlin Wien old E E15 E84                             2        
    Berlin Wien national A13 A4 A17 B170 8 D8 R8 29 243 D1 38 B303 A23         13      
    Berlin Wien minimal E55 E59                                 2    
    Bern Bruxelles E E25 E411                           2       3 5
    Bern Bruxelles old E E4 E9 E40                           3        
    Bern Bruxelles national A1 A2 A3 A35 N83 N422 A4 A31 A3 A6 A4             11      
    Bern Bruxelles minimal E25 E411                                 2    
    Bern Luxembourg E E25                             1       2 3
    Bern Luxembourg old E E4 E9                             2        
    Bern Luxembourg national A1 A2 A3 A35 N83 N422 A4 A31 A3                 9      
    Bern Luxembourg minimal E25                                   1    
    Bern Paris E E25 E23 E60 E15                       4       1 5
    Bern Paris old E E4 E2 A36 A31 E1                       5        
    Bern Paris national A1 A9 9 N57 A36 A31 A6                     7      
    Bern Paris minimal E25 E23 E60 E15                             4    
    Bern Praha E E25 E35 E50                         3       2 5
    Bern Praha old E E4 E12                             2        
    Bern Praha national A1 A2 A5 A6 B85 A93 D5                     7      
    Bern Praha minimal E25 E35 E50                               3    
    Bern Roma E E25 E35                           2       1 3
    Bern Roma old E E4 E9 E2 E6                         4        
    Bern Roma national A1 A2 A9 A8 A50 A1                       6      
    Bern Roma minimal E25 E35                                 2    
    Bern Warszawa E E25 E35 E50 E45 E51 E441 E40 E67               8       2 10
    Bern Warszawa old E E4 E12 E6                           3        
    Bern Warszawa national A1 A2 A5 A6 A9 A72 A4 DK4 DK8                 9      
    Bern Warszawa minimal A1 A2 A5 A6 A9 A72 E40 E67                     8    
    Bern Wien E E25 A1 E60 E43 E54 E52 E60                 7       2 9
    Bern Wien old E E4 A1 E17 E61 E11 E14 E5                   7        
    Bern Wien national A1 7 B202 B190 A14 A96 B18 B2R A8 A1               10      
    Bern Wien minimal A1 E60 E43 E54 E52 E60                         6    
    Bruxelles Luxembourg E E411 E25                           2       1 3
    Bruxelles Luxembourg old E E40 E9                             2        
    Bruxelles Luxembourg national A4 A6                               2      
    Bruxelles Luxembourg minimal A4 A6                                 2    
    Bruxelles Paris E E19                             1       1 2
    Bruxelles Paris old E E10                               1        
    Bruxelles Paris national A7 A2 A1                             3      
    Bruxelles Paris minimal E19                                   1    
    Bruxelles Praha E E40 E35 E42 E41 E43 E45 E56 E50               8       2 10
    Bruxelles Praha old E E5 E12                             2        
    Bruxelles Praha national A3 A44 A4 A3 A6 B85 A93 D5                   8      
    Bruxelles Praha minimal E40 A3 E50                               3    
    Bruxelles Roma E E25 E35                           2       4 6
    Bruxelles Roma old E E40 E9 E2 E6                         4        
    Bruxelles Roma national A4 A6 A3 A31 A4 A35 N422 N83 A3 A2 A9 A8 A50 A1       14      
    Bruxelles Roma minimal E25 E35                                 2    
    Bruxelles Warszawa E E19 E34 E30                         3       3 6
    Bruxelles Warszawa old E E10 E3 E73 E8                         4        
    Bruxelles Warszawa national A1 A13 A21 A67 A40 A35 A2 A10 A12 DK2 A2             11      
    Bruxelles Warszawa minimal E19 E34 E30                               3    
    Bruxelles Wien E E40 E35 E42 E41 E43 E45 E56 E552 E60             9       2 11
    Bruxelles Wien old E E5                               1        
    Bruxelles Wien national A3 A44 A4 A3 A8 A25 A1                     7      
    Bruxelles Wien minimal E40 A3 A8 A25 A1                           5    
    Luxembourg Paris E E25 E50                           2       1 3
    Luxembourg Paris old E E9 E12                             2        
    Luxembourg Paris national A3 A31 A4                             3      
    Luxembourg Paris minimal E25 A4                                 2    
    Luxembourg Praha E E29 A8 E50                         3       2 5
    Luxembourg Praha old E E42 A8 E12                           3        
    Luxembourg Praha national A3 A13 A8 A6 B85 A93 D5                     7      
    Luxembourg Praha minimal E29 A8 E50                               3    
    Luxembourg Roma E E25 E35                           2       3 5
    Luxembourg Roma old E E9 E2 E6                           3        
    Luxembourg Roma national A3 A31 A4 A35 N422 N83 A3 A2 A9 A8 A50 A1           12      
    Luxembourg Roma minimal E25 E35                                 2    
    Luxembourg Warszawa E E44 E40 E67                         3       2 5
    Luxembourg Warszawa old E A1 A64 B52 A602 A1 A48 A3 B49 B429 A480 E4 E70 E63 E22 E12   15        
    Luxembourg Warszawa national A1 A64 B52 A602 A1 A48 A3 B49 B429 A480 A5 A7 A4 DK4 DK8     15      
    Luxembourg Warszawa minimal E44 E40 E67                               3    
    Luxembourg Wien E E29 A8 E50 E56 E552 E60                   6       2 8
    Luxembourg Wien old E E42 A8 E12 E5                         4        
    Luxembourg Wien national A3 A13 A8 A6 A3 A8 A25 A1                   8      
    Luxembourg Wien minimal E29 A8 A6 A3 A8 A25 A1                       7    
    Paris Praha E E50                             1       2 3
    Paris Praha old E E12                               1        
    Paris Praha national A4 A320 A6 B85 A93 D5                       6      
    Paris Praha minimal E50                                   1    
    Paris Roma E E15 E21 E25 E80 E76 E35                   6       1 7
    Paris Roma old E E1 E46 E21b E21 E55 E6                     6        
    Paris Roma national A6 A40 N205 A5 A26 A10 A12 A11 A1                 9      
    Paris Roma minimal E15 A40 E25 E80 A11 A1                         6    
    Paris Warszawa E E19 E42 E40 E31 E37 E34 E30                 7       3 10
    Paris Warszawa old E E10 E41 E5 E73 E8                       5        
    Paris Warszawa national A1 A2 A7 A15 A3 A44 A4 A1 A2 A10 A12 DK2 A2         13      
    Paris Warszawa minimal E19 E42 E40 A1 A2 E30                         6    
    Paris Wien E E50 E56 E552 E60                       4       2 6
    Paris Wien old E E12 E5                             2        
    Paris Wien national A4 A320 A6 A3 A8 A25 A1                     7      
    Paris Wien minimal E50 E56 E552 E60                             4    
    Praha Roma E E50 A93 E45 E35                       4       3 7
    Praha Roma old E E12 A93 E6                           3        
    Praha Roma national D5 A6 A93 A9 A99 A8 A12 A13 A22 A1               10      
    Praha Roma minimal E50 A93 E45 E35                             4    
    Praha Warszawa E E67                             1       1 2
    Praha Warszawa old E E12                               1        
    Praha Warszawa national D11 11 33 DK8                           4      
    Praha Warszawa minimal E67                                   1    
    Praha Wien E E50 E59                           2       1 3
    Praha Wien old E E15 E84                             2        
    Praha Wien national D1 38 B303 A22                           4      
    Praha Wien minimal E50 E59                                 2    
    Roma Warszawa E E35 A13 E70 E55 E66 E59 E60 E58 E75 E67           10       4 14
    Roma Warszawa old E E6 E2 E7 E16 E82                       5        
    Roma Warszawa national A1 A13 A4 A23 A2 A23 A4 B9 61 D1 11 48 DK1 A1 DK8     15      
    Roma Warszawa minimal E35 A13 A4 E55 A2 E60 E58 E75 E67                   9    
    Roma Wien E E35 A13 E70 E55 E66 E59                   6       1 7
    Roma Wien old E E6 E2 E7                           3        
    Roma Wien national A1 A13 A4 A23 A2                         5      
    Roma Wien minimal A1 A13 A4 A23 A2                           5    
    Warszawa Wien E E67 E75 E58 E60                       4       2 6
    Warszawa Wien old E E82 E16                             2        
    Warszawa Wien national DK8 A1 DK1 48 11 D1 61 B9 A4                 9      
    Warszawa Wien minimal E67 E75 E58 E60                             4    
    Total 177 166 358 151 261
    Average 3.933 3.689 7.956 3.356 5.800
    Reduction compared to national numbers 50.559 53.631 0 57.821 27.095
    Reduction compared to new E numbers 0 6.215 n.a. 14.689 n.a.
    Luxembourg-Giessen E44 instead of 10 national nrs 177 148 354 151
    3.933 3.289 7.956 3.356
    50.559 58.659 0 57.821
    0 16.384 n.a. 14.689

    Stability

    Obviously, some routes might be questioned, e.g. Bruxelles - Aachen, on the route to Wien or Praha, is roughly the same distance via E40 or E40 and E314.
    Also, between Warszawa and Wien, a route via DK52 - DK69 - 12 - D3 (which is not an E road) instead of DK1 - 48 - 11 might be better.
    In most cases, this makes hardly any difference.
    Adding Budapest might change the score in favour of E numbers: coming from the west, passing Wien, one just follows the E60 passing national numbers A1, A21, A2, A23 and A4. A2 and A23 will be replaced by the S1 within a few years.
    The completion of the German A6 (E50) in 2008 will be in favour of national numbers: on 5 routes, two less numbers will be needed.

    Should routes be adjusted to the network of around 1975 to judge old E numbers better? One might argue that it is unfair to transfer the old numbers to the new system and count many extra numbers where the old roads do not follow new main corridors.
    On the other hand, one reason for introducing a new European road numbering system was presumably that the old system was no longer in line with the modern road network, so it is not surprising that the old routes are sometimes not optimal.
    Even in the 1970's, the best route Luxembourg - Giessen was via de A48, which did not have an E number.
    However, it may be assumed that if the old E numbering system would have been maintained, some numbers would have been rerouted anyway.

    Three-digit E numbers

    Not many 3-digit E numbers are used in this table. Very often, 3-digit numbers are just part of a national road (or even exactly the same). Examples used here are In the best case, a 3-digit E number covers 3 different national roads (E314 follows B A2, NL A76 and D A4). Therefore one might argue that 3-digit numbers should be abolished, since they mostly have administrative importance.

    It is also somewhat strange that some roads with obvious international importance do not have E numbers (the A1 Zürich - Bern and the German A93). Apparently Switzerland chose not to define 3-digit E numbers for such connections as the A1 Bern - Zürich.
    If E numbers would always be signposted, it could be convenient for long distance travellers to exclusively use E numbers. Most maps of Europe only show E numbers.

    Why are road numbers so impopular?

    In theory, the main advantage of road numbers is that it is always clear which road number is indicated, while any number of towns might or might not appear on signs. In addition, signs can have less information.
    Examples of 'unexpected' destinations indicated on signs:
    Germany, A46 to Heinsberg: even when the road was only built to Hückelhoven, signs near Mönchengladbach indicated only Heinsberg, while Erkelenz and Hückelhoven would have been far more obvious. The reason was that the road was meant to continue to Heinsberg, but this was not obvious to everyone.
    Germany, A23 to Itzehoe: on the A7 at Dreieck Hamburg-Nordwest, only Husum and Heide appear on signs. Again, the A23 was planned to continue to Husum, and now ends at Heide. However, Itzehoe, Elmshorn and Pinneberg are all bigger than Husum and Heide and much closer, so that it would be more obvious to expect these cities on the signs.
    (NB Husum and Heide are probably more interesting for tourism.)
    Belgium: on the E42 at Battice, coming from Verviers, Paris is indicated but Bruxelles is not.

    In practice, since road numbers are often poorly signposted, this advantage is reduced.
    In Belgium, only E numbers are indicated in such a way that they can be followed, but only on motorways. On other roads they are not indicated at all.
    In Germany, it is roughly the other way round: E numbers are sometimes fully signposted only on non-motorways. On motorways, only reassurance signs with distances show E numbers.
    In France, the indication of E numbers even depends on the department: there is not a signle sign showing the E512 in Haut-Rhin, while it is indicated on some signs in Vosges.

    Most people find it much easier to remember names than numbers. If we assume for example that the average person can remember 5 names more easily than one number, it is of course easier to remember a set of towns which will probably appear on signs than a set of road numbers. In addition, two factors will make people use names rather than numbers (in Europe):

    For example, in Luxembourg, one will encounter signs without any numbers at all, with only national numbers, with only E numbers or with both. Therefore, to find the way in Luxembourg, one would need to know both classes of numbers, and for most people it is easier to just use town names.

    National routes

    One might argue that E numbers are useful only on (long) international routes, and the number of different numbers on such routes is lower only because they do not change at borders, and since most journeys are within countries, the advantage is negligible.
    To identify to what extent the advantage of E numbers lies in the continuation at borders, the number of border crossings on the given routes is added to the number of (new) E numbers. This way the difference is roughly cut in half, see conclusions below.

    A comparison between European and national numbers for some routes between major cities within four countries is given in the tables below.

    The Netherlands

    Routes between 11 major cities in the Netherlands:
    The NetherlandsE >
    nationalAmsterdamRotterdamDen HaagGroningenBredaEindhovenUtrechtArnhemApeldoornMaastrichtNijmegensum E
    Amsterdam0113321121318
    Rotterdam2015121223118
    Den Haag1105121213318
    Groningen3550523224321
    Breda2133011322413
    Eindhoven124210111126
    Utrecht121311011136
    Arnhem221231101315
    Apeldoorn154231210325
    Maastricht135421133033
    Nijmegen43534231230113
    sum182428191467553129

    Note
    Utrecht - Groningen is shorter via A27 - A6 - A7 than via A28

    The average number of different E numbers is 2.05 (total 55 routes), for national numbers it is 2.35. Thus there is only a small difference.

    Germany

    GermanyE >
    nationalBerlinDresdenDortmundFrankfurt am MainHannoverBremenHamburgKölnLeipzigMünchenNürnbergStuttgartsum E
    Berlin01231323121423
    Dresden10324621243229
    Dortmund13022121333421
    Frankfurt am Main43203432344326
    Hannover13120213211515
    Bremen35132012422617
    Hamburg13121102311512
    Köln27122110254415
    Leipzig1234243802147
    München1332343210112
    Nürnberg1321232111022
    Stuttgart324456543120169
    sum1934182017191415522165

    Notes
    1 Berlin - Bremen via A2 - A7 - A27 slightly shorter than via A24 - A1
    2 Köln - Frankfurt via A66

    One needs a few more E numbers than national numbers (2.4 %).
    If the A4 would continue between Köln and Dresden, and the E41 would be changed as indicated below, the number of national numbers would be reduced by 12, and the number of E numbers by 3, and the number of extra E numbers would increase to 8.5 %.
    Still, this is not a very significant difference.

    Belgium

    BelgiumE >
    nationalAntwerpenArlonBruggeBruxellesCharleroiGentKortrijkLiègeMonsNamursum E
    Antwerpen032121111315
    Arlon302122312114
    Brugge230131112211
    Bruxelles11102121118
    Charleroi42420331119
    Gent13114011226
    Kortrijk16125102226
    Liège12311340112
    Mons33412342011
    Namur313113412072
    sum192117813101232105

    The numbering system seems to be particularly good in Belgium, with a reduction of more than 30 %.
    This is mainly due to the fact that the E19 and the E40 continue along the R0 in Bruxelles, thus one saves two numbers when following either of these roads passing Bruxelles. Also, the E42 is routed via A8, A16, A7 and A15 (and further to the east via A3 and A27, but these are not needed for routes between the given cities).

    France

    FranceE >
    nationalBordeauxClermont-FerrandDijonLilleLyonMarseilleNantesParisReimsRouenStrasbourgToulousesum E
    Bordeaux0110213312411139
    Clermont-Ferrand2010413434811250
    Dijon1010012322133320
    Lille56403452143325
    Lyon65250241325219
    Marseille65361062439226
    Nantes2685101003344418
    Paris2321123011226
    Reims4532455103238
    Rouen27433431303811
    Strasbourg131353710511301010
    Toulouse1358755579120232
    sum536336333336218111212318

    Notes
    1 Assume the A89 is complete between Libourne and Balbigny (N82)
    2 Bordeaux/Clermont-Ferrand - Dijon/Strasbourg via N89-D89-D81-D101-(N89)-N7-D73-N6
    3 Strasbourg - Toulouse via A35-N422-N83-A36-A39-A40-A42-A46-N346-(A46)-A7-A9-A61
    4 Rouen - Clermont-Ferrand/Toulouse via A12-N286-A86-N118-A10

    In France, the difference is also significant, though slightly less than in Belgium.

    This is due partly to the relatively large number of gaps in motorways:
    MotorwayGapRemarks
    A35N83To be upgraded in future
    A35N422New motorway to be built in future
    A85N76New motorway to be built in future
    A54N113
    A46N346
    Also, sometimes there is no direct motorway and no clear optimal route (notes 2 and 4 above).

    Summary

    TotalAverageReduction (%)
    CountryRoutesEnationalEnationalEnational
    The Netherlands551131292.052.3512.40
    Germany661691652.562.502.42
    Belgium45721051.602.3331.43
    France662323183.524.8227.04
    Average2.433.0018.89

    Some specific routes

    A number of E routes are illogical in the sense that there is a shorter route which has at least the same standard.
    Some examples in detail:
    CountrynumberRouteshorter viadifference (km)remarks
    NLE19Amsterdam - BredaA10-A2-A2711The route via Den Haag and Rotterdam links major cities. When the A4 is completed, the E19 will probably be rerouted along the entire A4, and the detour will be eliminated.
    NLE22Amsterdam - GroningenA10-A1-A618In addition, not the whole E22 is a motorway on this route. NB If one starts at the A8/A10 interchange, the difference is only 6 km. Thus the problem could be almost eliminated by letting the E19 start there, which is also more logical since then, the E19, E22 and E35 are all joined at the same point.
    NLE25Vlaardingen - EindhovenA16-A5824This is a route which really does not make sense.
    DE41Giessen-StuttgartA5-A845This route was assigned with the completion of the A45 to Stuttgart in mind. If this road had been built, the E41 would not have been a detour.
    CH/F/IE25Bern - GenovaE27101The reason for this strange route is that Genève needs to be on a major route, but this does not justify the detour.
    Another example of a detour is the E75 between Zilina and Budapest which is about 390 km, while the direct route via Zvolen is about one third shorter (260 km), but it only has small sections of motorway or motorway-like road while the E75 is almost entirely with motorway standard.

    The only really strange route in the Netherlands is the E25.
    The problem with the E41 could be solved by giving it the number originally assigned, namely E39, on the A45. It is no problem that there is another E39 in Norway (cf. e.g. E01).
    The E42 could then be continued to Würzburg (Kreuz Biebelried), thus eliminating two E numbers on the A3. Also, the E41 could be continued to Erfurt via A7, A70 and A73. This would either eliminate only one E number on the A3, or create a useless multiplex E41 E42 on the A3 between Würzburg-West and Biebelried. The E41 would then cross the E45, which in principle violates the grid system, but such situations exist elsewhere as well (E35/E37 at Leverkusen, E42/E44 at Wittlich, E49/E51).
    A city with the importance of Genève which is not near a first class E road is indeed hard to find. Therefore the E25 could be continued to Marseille via the A41 and A51, rather than replacing the E27 by the E25, which would also eliminate the strange route.

    Two extreme examples: the E40 and E44

    In Germany, there are two E roads which replace a very large number of national routes.

    The E40 between Köln and Dresden is an important east-west axis, and because the A4 between Olpe and Bad Hersfeld was never built, and probably will not be built within 30 years, one has to follow the A45, B49, B429 (eastbound traffic is guided via the A485 instead), A480, A5 and A7 between the two sections of A4.
    One could renumber this route to A4 and the southern section of the A45 to A69.

    The entire E44, which is about 800 km long, follows the following 20 routes:
    France A29, A26, D1, N29, N43 (two sections), A203, N18, N52
    Belgium N830
    Luxembourg N31, N5, A6, A1
    Germany A64, B52, A602, A1, A48, A3, B49
    Seven of these are motorways, eight are other roads. This example shows that E numbers are expecially useful for routes which only partly follow motorways. Of course, few motorists will follow this entire route, and between Sedan and Luxembourg it is faster to follow the Belgian N89 and A4, but for example between Luxembourg and Koblenz it is useful to have just one number.

    Conclusions

    On the 45 routes examined, the average number of different road numbers is as follows:
    MethodNumberReduction compared to (%)
    national numbersnew E numbers
    Using E routes where possible3.93350.6n.a.
    Using old E routes where possible3.68953.66.2
    Using only national numbers7.956n.a.n.a.
    Using the least possible amount of different numbers3.35657.814.7
    E numbers plus border crossings5.80027.1n.a.

    Far less E numbers than national numbers are needed, as could be expected.

    The difference is caused in part by motorways which are not completed yet, e.g. on the E50.

    Remarkably, even the route from Amsterdam to Wien, which follows the entire German A3, which is covered by 6 different E numbers, only has two less national numbers than E numbers, since the E numbers 'catch up' on the sections outside Germany.

    Old E numbers seem better than the new system: only because there is no old E road between Giessen and Luxembourg, many extra national numbers must be used on the routes Berlin - Luxembourg and Luxembourg - Warszawa. Using the E44 here would reduce the average to 3.178, making it even better than using both new E numbers and national numbers.

    The clearest advantage is on the route Bruxelles - Wien, which is just the old E5 instead of 8 new numbers. On the other hand, Amsterdam - Roma is just the E35, while 6 old numbers cover this route.

    Clearly, a major decrease in the number of different road numbers needed is achieved by just using any road number class where convenient. This is due mostly to the so often scorned fact that E numbers follow a completely different pattern than national numbers. The most obvious example is the German A3. The route from Amsterdam to Praha is covered by 7 E numbers and 7 national numbers, but by using E numbers near Amsterdam and Praha and the A3 in between, one needs only 3 different numbers. The same holds for the route Bruxelles - Praha.
    The question is whether the reduction in numbers needed on long-distance routes justifies the 'overload' of information created when signposting both European and national numbers as in Switzerland.

    About half the advantage of E numbers lies in the fact that E numbers do not change at borders: adding these to the number of E numbers, the reduction compared to national numbers is only 27.1 % instead of 53.6 %.
    NB Alternatively, one could subtract the number of border crossings from the national numbers.

    For routes within one country, the average reduction when using E numbers instead of national routes for a number of routes in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France is 18.9 %.
    In Belgium and France it is about 30 %, which is in line with the number obtained when adding the number of border crossings.
    Only in Germany, slightly less national numbers than E numbers are needed. In the Netherlands there is little difference.

    The problem of having many different national numbers, especially when motorways are interrupted, is overcome in part by indirect references. For example, the A30 has a gap in Bad Oeynhausen, where one has to follow the B61 (and a very short section of B514, omitted in the table above), but there are indirect references to the motorways A2 (eastbound) and A30 (westbound).

    A disadvantage of E numbers is that the number of digits tends to be higher than for national numbers on the same route. This holds in particular for motorways. Often 1-digit motorway numbers correspond to 2-digit E numbers and 2-digit national numbers to 3-digit E numbers. For lower class roads, this difference is smaller.

    In due course, signs might disappear alltogether, since all cars will have navigation equipment. However, currently (2005) only 6 percent of all cars in Europe have a navigation system, and it will certainly take decades until signs can be removed completely. Also, signs remain useful in case of technical problems with navigation equipment.
    More realistically, signs may in future be reduced to the bare minimum, with just road numbers and some destinations indicated.

    Some related subjects:

    TOTSO's

    TOTSO stands for Turn Off To Stay On: here a road number continues via a slip road which is reached by turning off. It is often argued that E numbers have 'strange routes' because they have more TOTSO's than national route numbers.
    The following table compares TOTSO's on A and E numbers with roughly comparable length in Germany and Switzerland. Since E numbers which are in part not motorways tend to have many more TOTSO's than motorways, only motorways (and motorway-like roads) are considered.
    ANumber of TOTSO'sENumber of TOTSO's
    Germany
    A14E304
    A20E311
    A32E340
    A43E370
    A51E409
    A63E414
    A72E432
    A81E455
    A91E525
    A104E555
    Switzerland
    A15E254
    A23E353
    A33E605

    E numbers have more TOTSO's, but that is in fact their advantage: for example, from Karlsruhe to Salzburg, one has only one E number while the A8 is interrupted by the A99 München ring road.

    Examples of routes:
    RouteE number TOTSO'sNational number TOTSO'sNumber of turn offs
    Amsterdam - Wien224
    Amsterdam - Bern425

    Destinations

    The following table shows the smallest number of destinations one needs to know to find the way on some routes without knowing any road numbers.
    The idea is to follow the first control city until the next one appears on a sign, then to follow the next one etc.
    When the city in question is not indicated at some location, it must be possible to assume that one may simply continue to follow the road straight on: in Germany and Switzerland, for example, signs for the direction straight on only show the name of the next exit.
    RouteTownsNumber of road numbers
    fromto1234567891011numberNew EOld ENationalMinimal
    AmsterdamWienUtrechtArnhemOberhausenKölnFrankfurtWürzburgNürnbergRegensburgPassauLinzWien118365
    AmsterdamBernUtrechtArnhemOberhausenKölnFrankfurtBaselBern72572
    BernWienZürichSt. GallenMünchenSalzburgWien577105

    The number of towns needed has the same order of magnitude as the number of road numbers, but as observed before, it is not clear to everyone which towns are signposted.

    Marcel Monterie


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