{"id":169603,"date":"2025-01-24T20:27:32","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T10:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=59269"},"modified":"2025-01-24T20:27:32","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T10:27:32","slug":"intermodal-has-to-be-treated-like-passenger-rail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=169603","title":{"rendered":"\u201cIntermodal has to be treated like passenger rail\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The position of intermodal and, by extension, combined transport is not negotiable for the industry. \u201cIntermodal has to be treated like passenger rail\u201d was one of the key takeaways of the UIRR-organised online European Intermodal Summit.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Discussions during the event focused on key policy elements like the Capacity Management Regulation and the Combined Transport Directive. Pierpaolo Settembri, Deputy Head of Cabinet of Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas stressed in his opening words that the \u201cmodal shift is not going as the Commission wishes, being stagnant in certain areas of Europe while decreasing in others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grabbing this opportunity, Ralf-Charley Schultze, UIRR Director General, underlined that the Commission must reaffirm that the Greening Freight Transport Package will be implemented without omitting key elements.<\/p>\n

\u2018Guarantee that rail freight is prioritised\u2019<\/h2>\n

Regarding the progress of the Capacity Management Adoption, MEP Tilly Metz was vocal that the European Parliament will not agree on anything below the harmonisation standards. \u201cHarmonisation, binding implementation and more consultation between all stakeholders\u201d are critical, she mentioned.<\/p>\n

She explained that the Capacity Management Regulation is in a trialogue phase, and its advancement depends on the Council. Metz added that the process could be transferred to the Danish presidency. On the other hand, MEP Ondrej Kovarik seemed confident that the Polish Presidency is willing to advance negotiations.<\/p>\n

On behalf of intermodal operators, Robert Groiss was more pragmatic and straight to the point: \u201cWe need more priority for freight trains\u2013we need guarantees that rail will be prioritised and train paths will be secured,\u201d he said. Moreover, responding to a remark by MEP Ondrej Kovarik that a coordination mechanism between Infrastructure Managers is critical for the allocation of slots, Groiss said that Railway Undertakings and Infrastructure Managers of different countries should be treated equally and should be on the same level.<\/p>\n