In advance of tomorrow's expected adoption of the Council first reading position on Eurovignette Directive reform, the European rail freight sector (ERFA, CER, UIRR) has significant concerns about the Council position, as it runs contrary to the shared climate and transport policy objectives of the Member States themselves:
Read moreERFA welcomes the final adoption of 2021 as the European Year of Rail during the European Parliament Plenary Session today. The European Year of Rail should serve as the moment to highlight the benefits of rail, but also to openly discuss how the sector can further contribute to Europe?s economic and climate related goals. The European Year of Rail will be a unique occasion to finally deliver a legal framework that meets the needs of rail freight.
Read moreThe publication of the European Commission's Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy signals the beginning of a process to deliver a legal framework which meets the needs of the rail freight industry. ERFA welcomes the publication of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and anticipates an ambitious revision of the key legal texts included within the Strategy.
Read moreThe question of how best to support rail freight through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner remains one of the most pressing issues facing the sector. This topic has been brought back to the fore due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic currently taking hold throughout Europe. ERFA calls on the European Commission and Member States to ensure that support measures, which are needed, do not lead to avoidable competition distortion and damage to the industry as a whole.
Read moreThe Sector Statement Group (SSG) welcomes today's publication of the Berlin Declaration. The declaration showcases the necessary clear commitment of the EU Member States to support international rail freight and rightly recognises the environmental advantage of rail freight in view of the European Green Deal. We notably welcome the clear commitment of the Member States to agree on a migration strategy for Digital Automatic Coupling and the recognition of the importance of further digitalisation of infrastructure networks, capacity management and allocation.
Read moreERFA welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament of the proposed European Regulation establishing measures for a sustainable rail market. This Regulation will give Member States the necessary freedom to support the rail freight industry in a neutral, economically justified and transparent way through the waiving or reduction of track access charges.
Read moreERFA welcomes the announced by Prime Minister of France, Mr. Jean Castex, that France will waive track access charges until the end of 2020 and reduce charges by half for the entirety of 2021. ERFA believes this initiative will support all rail freight undertakings in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner. ERFA calls for other national governments to follow the example of France to assist the rail freight industry.
Read moreERFA strongly supports the proposal for a Regulation by the European Commission establishing measures for a sustainable rail market in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. ERFA believes the proposal will give Member States the necessary flexibility to take concrete actions to assist the rail freight sector during the ongoing COVID crisis.
Read moreOne of the direct consequences of the COVID crisis has been the freeing up of capacity on the European railway network due to drastically reduced passenger traffic. This has coincided with a significant increase in the service offer and punctuality of rail freight. Passenger traffic will return, but it is essential that policy makers also ensure that lessons are learnt from this crisis regarding the key success factors for rail freight ? namely good quality and quantity of capacity for freight.
Read moreIn order for rail freight undertakings to be able to successfully navigate the COVID-19 crisis, it is important to reach the correct decisions about European and national support measures. These support measures should prioritise sectoral schemes, such as a waiving of track access charges and energy charges (with support for service providers), which benefit all rail freight operators. It is essential that any potential support measures directly given to railway undertakings are transparent, fair and open to all actors, state owned and private.
Read moreRail freight will face significant challenges to continued operations over the coming months, particularly in light of a significant slowdown in industrial output due to national measures taken to control the outbreak of COVID-19. These short-term measures could cause longer term damage to the sector, namely the disappearance of operators and capacity, if measures are not taken to support the industry. ERFA and UIP therefore call for State support measures to be granted to Infrastructure Managers coupled with a short-term waiving of Track Access Charges and Energy Charges for rail freight undertakings.
Read moreERFA believes it is essential that the Green lanes concept is now adopted by Member States and built upon by ensuring that critical infrastructure remains accessible 24/7 and that there is strong cooperation between Member States and national authorities on rail capacity management.
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