Category: Policy
Who (and why) gains from Germany’s €1.7 billion single wagonload fund?
With single wagonload transport being one of the most fragile and volatile services offered by the rail freight industry, the 1.7 billion euros that Germany will pour into it sounded like music to the ears of logisticians. Nevertheless, soon, joy was overtaken by doubt, considering reports claiming that DB Cargo would be the primary beneficiary…
EU Commission approves German rail freight scheme for 1.7 billion euros
The European Commission (EC) approved a scheme for 1.7 billion euros to support single wagonload and wagon group transport in Germany until 2029. “The maximum annual budget amounts to €320 million”, the EC specified. The measure aims at ensuring that these types of transport and the companies operating them do not cease to exist due…
New government setup is supposed to enhance Russian rail
Russia is shuffling its government leadership for the transport sector in order to streamline the development of the country’s transport and logistics. Alongside the traditional transport minister, Russia will now also have former transport minister Vitaly Savelyev as the new deputy Prime Minister for Transport. The two will prioritise the development of the “Eastern Polygon”…
‘Businesses should brace ahead of new Import Control System’
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…
Belated EU notification delays Polish rail freight terminal tax exemption
An uncompleted EU procedure is delaying a tax exemption for Polish rail freight terminals. The European Union has to approve of the exemption, as EU law considers it to be state aid that may distort competition on the European single market. An amendment to Polish tax rules exempts rail freight terminals from real estate tax.…
French rail freight players run rule over 4 billion euro investment plan
A major investment programme totalling 4 billion euros to develop rail freight in France is due to be finalised later this year. Two of France’s leading rail freight executives tell Railfreight.com what they think of this funding package, which runs to 2032 and is seen as a key element in doubling the sector’s modal share…
Not a word about rail freight in Dutch coalition agreement
It was a long and complex process, which many expected to fail at one point or another. After half a year, the Dutch coalition negotiations have ended with an agreement between four right-wing parties. The Dutch rail freight sector will likely look at the agreement with a sense of disappointment, because the agreement makes not…
Is the Capacity Management Directive taking the wrong turn?
The Greening Freight Transport Package (GFTP) seemed to be a sign of EU-wide political will to bring significant changes and improve the transport sector in the continent. The Regulation on the Use of Railway Infrastructure Capacity was supposed to be the flagship of this Package, which is why it was received with the most optimism…