ERFA: “EU’s Greening Freight Package lacks a coherent strategy”

The EU’s Greening Freight Package is the bloc’s flagship policy package for decarbonisation in the transport sector. It looks to decrease emissions in European transport by 90 per cent in 2050. However, the package is not all sunshine and rainbows. Many disagreements about its content remain and the future of the package depends on the…

France’s rail freight sector voices strong opposition to ‘mega’ trucks

France’s rail freight sector has voiced strong opposition to the European Union’s move to introduce ‘mega’ lorries of more than 25 metres in length and weighing up to 60 tonnes. Trucks in France currently have a maximum length and weight of 19 metres and 40 tonnes, respectively. Speaking on French TV, Alexandre Gallo, President and […]

EU Parliament’s plenary says yes to ‘monstertrucks’ after all

With a marginal majority (300 votes against 295), the European Parliament has approved the legislative proposals of the Weights and Dimensions Directive (WDD) part of the Greening Freight Transport Package (GFTP). In practice, this means that the Parliament approved, among other things, the circulation of gigaliner trucks and the use of heavier trucks diesel-powered trucks […]

New combined transport definition is still too vague, says TRAN Committee

The European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) published a Working Document compiling a bundle of recommendations to improve the Combined Transport Directive, part of the Greening Freight Package. According to the report, the new definition of combined transport still exhales uncertainty, possibly hindering the competitiveness of this modality. The new definition of combined […]

TRAN committee votes in favour of Capacity Regulation amendments

The European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) has recently approved various amendments to the Capacity Management Directive, part of the Greening Freight Package. The main new aspects introduced are the creation of a European Railway Undertaking Platform (ERP), a new role for the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and additional recommendations concerning […]

TRAN committee votes in favour of Capacity Regulation amendments

The European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) has recently approved various amendments to the Capacity Management Directive, part of the Greening Freight Package. The main new aspects introduced are the creation of a European Railway Undertaking Platform (ERP), a new role for the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and additional recommendations concerning […]

MEPs approve Weights and Dimensions Directive to rail’s dismay

The Weights and Dimensions Directive (WDD), part of the Greening Freight Transport Package (GFTP), has been approved by the EU Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee on Wednesday, 14 February. The Committee voted in favour of the legislative proposal by 26 votes to 11 and one abstention. Unfortunately, the green light came without considering remarks made […]

“It’s up to the sector to provide modal shift incentives,” says LTG Cargo CEO

“We don’t have time to wait – we need to act now”. This is the message of Egle Sime, CEO of the Lithuanian operator LTG Cargo. In her view, it’s not only the EU that needs to take legislative steps and enable the modal shift to rail. The rail freight sector should also take initiatives […]

EU cities urge Commission to make the right legislative decisions for rail

The European Committee of Regions (CoR) is entering the modal shift race with a clear message: European cities want to see the number of trucks circulating in their premises reduced. At the same time, they ask the EU to strengthen intermodal transport via rail and barge as the only way to meet decarbonisation goals and […]

Who stands to benefit from the Weights and Dimensions Directive?

The Weights and Dimensions Directive (WDD) is one of the pillars of the Greening Freight Package (GFP), a bundle of measures proposed by the European Union to make all modes of transport more sustainable. However, finding a solution that satisfies all the parties involved seems to remain a Herculean task, as none of the various […]