The EU’s new Import Control System (ICS2), designed to streamline and strengthen customs control procedures for the European single market, is rapidly approaching. For rail freight transport, the system will be enforced by 2025. Road operators, however, will need to adapt as early as June 2024. Despite its noble intentions, ICS2 is anticipated to introduce…
Author: Nikos Papatolios
Do EU citizens know what’s at stake with the EU’s transport policies?
The rail industry has vehemently opposed the Commission’s Weights and Dimensions Directive (WDD), which would allow gigaliners or mega trucks to dominate the European transport sector price-wise and capacity-wise. Apart from the industry, however, such policies also concern the public, considering they could heavily impact life quality in many ways. Is the European public aware…
Short-term TAC hikes put transport contracts under strain
In a bid to combat the crippling impact of skyrocketing track access charges, European rail operators are calling for urgent short-term support measures. The clarion call comes amidst a flurry of criticism following Germany’s recent hefty price hike program, among others. Apart from Germany, which will increase TACs by 16 per cent, Sweden and Portugal…
Short-term TAC hikes put transport contracts under strain
In a bid to combat the crippling impact of skyrocketing track access charges, European rail operators are calling for urgent short-term support measures. The clarion call comes amidst a flurry of criticism following Germany’s recent hefty price hike program, among others. Apart from Germany, which will increase TACs by 16 per cent, Sweden and Portugal…
New TEN-T: extra ERTMS deployment deadlines, unclear vision for rolling stock
As the adoption of the new TEN-T regulations by the EU Parliament sinks in, more points relevant to rail freight should be addressed. Those include, among other things, the deployment of ERTMS and the new deadlines set for this purpose. There has been much buzz around these two topics, especially regarding ERTMS deployment. Many companies…
New TEN-T: Core focus on multimodal networks, benefits for intermodal rail
The much-awaited revision of the TEN-T regulations is here. The EU Parliament plenary voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of the revision. The legal document that will soon be adopted provides some highlights, including plans to boost intermodal transport and multimodal transport and terminal networks across the old continent. Of course, the 260-page document…
It’s time the EU commits to financial support for rail to meet policy goals
Consistency in pursuing goals, political commitment and explicit financial guarantees. Those are the three pillars that will ensure rail investments take place in a targeted and efficient manner in pursuit of reaching climate and decarbonisation goals and making rail freight more competitive. According to ETF, CER, and UITP, it is high time the EU proved…
HHLA acquires majority stakes at Roland Spedition to boost intermodal business
A new majority stake acquisition of Roland Spedition GmbH, a full-service rail and road transport operator, allows HHLA to boost hinterland links to and from Austria. The Hamburg-based company took over 51 per cent of the Austria-based intermodal service provider and now eyes optimising combined transport operations within its network. Shareholders and managing directors of…
“Rail should copy road’s funding mechanisms in Poland to grow”
The Polish economy is rebounding faster than most of the rest of the EU, infrastructure projects are seemingly in place, and rail volumes have been relatively stable during the past couple of years. Despite that, the overall picture for Polish rail freight is not positive. “We haven’t been achieving any substantial progress in the market…
Finnish cargo critical to making Rail Baltica relevant for logistics
Rail Baltica is probably one of Europe’s most anticipated railway projects, and rail freight is set to benefit significantly from its development. However, no matter its potential, the project could also end up becoming irrelevant for logistics. According to Oli Pohjanvirta, CEO of Nurminen Logistics, attracting Finnish volumes will be key in determining the project’s…