Military mobility, like freight, is reliant on high performing international corridors which facilitate longer and heavier trains. Like freight, national barriers and administrative burdens are also a barrier to effective military mobility. The infrastructure needs of freight and military are therefore aligned. This was the main takeaway from the ERFA annual event on 24 June in Brussels where military and industry representatives, as well as the new ERA Executive Director Oana Gherghinescu, discussed what rail needs to be ready for a changing world.
This common understanding significantly increases the pressure on policy makers to move towards an ever more integrated and less bureaucratic Single European Railway Area with high performing infrastructure and a stable technological framework. The current challenges facing rail freight movements are the same issues for military mobility by rail, thereby introducing a new dimension to European railway policy.
Complexity also needs to be taken out of the railway system. The need for reducing transit times and easy processes at national borders needs to be accelerated. Member States must therefore have a greater focus on developing a truly harmonised and interoperable railway system.
ERFA President, Dirk Stahl, stated, “during our conference on 24 June, it was clear that military and industry representatives see the same issues in the railway system. This a call for a greater coordination and ambition on standardisation and cross-border infrastructure. It was very valuable we could discuss these topics during the meeting with the new European Railway Agency Director, Oana Gherghinescu. Within ERFA we are committing to working with the Agency towards these goals and ensuring the Agency is given the resources to fulfil this mandate.”
ERFA Secretary General, Conor Feighan, concluded, “the recently launched consultation on the development of a comprehensive Military Mobility Package will play an important role in developing a clear strategy towards bolstering European defence readiness. ERFA will play a constructive role in the process to ensure that experiences from rail freight transportation in cross border traffic can be taken onboard to ensure seamless military mobility across Europe.”
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