Czech Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik has called on European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas to launch a political debate on reversing the decline of rail freight in the European Union. In a letter dated 18 May, he proposes adding the issue as an AOB (heading agenda at meeting) point at the June Transport Council.
He writes that operators across Europe, including in Austria and Germany, are facing profitability pressures as rail loses competitiveness against road transport.
The Czech Ministry of Transport is coordinating with other Member States on a package of measures to support rail freight at EU level. The proposals are to be presented at the upcoming Council meeting.
The letter calls for targeted investment in the TEN-T network and multimodal terminals under the next Multiannual Financial Framework. It also highlights the need for improved capacity management, stronger cross-border coordination and prioritisation of international freight services, including implementation of the Capacity Regulation.
Bednárik identifies multimodality, interoperability and digitalisation as key areas for action. He refers to support for combined transport, development of terminals and marshalling yards, modernisation of single wagonload systems and further deployment of ERTMS to address remaining interoperability barriers.
