The strategy lays the foundation for how the European transport system will become more digitalised and environmentally friendly, and more resilient to future crises. This will result in the 90% cut in emissions by 2050 outlined in the European Green Deal. The strategy has identified initiatives in 10 key areas.
The EC says these initiatives will result in a number of milestones.
By 2030:
- high-speed rail traffic will double in Europe
- scheduled collective travel for journeys under 500km should be carbon neutral
- automated mobility will be deployed at large scale
- at least 30 million zero-emission cars will be in operation on European roads
- 100 European cities will be climate neutral, and
- zero-emission marine vessels will be ready for market.
By 2035:
- zero-emission large aircraft will be ready for market
By 2050:
- rail freight traffic will double
- a multimodal TEN-T network for sustainable and smart transport will be operational with high speed connectivity, and
- nearly all cars, vans, buses as well as new heavy-duty vehicles will be zero emission.
The European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) says the publication of the strategy signals the beginning of a process to deliver a legal framework, which meets the needs of the rail freight industry.
The association says the revision of the rail freight corridors regulation and the TEN-T regulation, which are included in the strategy, was the right move as the two regulations needed to be addressed together given their mutual importance to one another.
ERFA also called for legislation to ensure that rail freight corridors meet key parameters such as compatibility with the P400 loading gauge and facilitating 740m-long trains on all corridors.
