The signing associations welcome the agreement of 18 March between EU Transport Ministers and the European Commission to work closely to minimise traffic disruptions, especially for essential freight. For rail freight to be able to play a leading role in freight flows, the associations believe further measures need to be taken, both by the European Commission and national authorities.

ERFA welcomes the Proposal of the European Commission to designate 2021 as the European Year of Rail. ERFA believes that a European Year of Rail should serve as an opportunity to finally deliver a legal framework that meets the needs of rail freight.

ERFA?s Board of Directors welcomes the addition of Lineas to the ERFA membership. Being the first freight company to have recently won the 2020 European Railway Award, Lineas is a solid example of the dynamic which private players are bringing to the transport sector. ERFA believes that Lineas, in cooperation with other ERFA members, will have a key role to play in the creation of a truly liberalized and competitive European Rail Freight market.

In light of the closing of the public consultation on the European rail freight network, and more particularly the effectiveness of the Rail Freight Corridors Regulation (2010/913), ERFA stresses the need for a revision of the Regulation and for the European Commission to adopt an ambitious approach which meets the needs of the rail freight industry.

The EU transport sector must continue to be a key enabler of sustainable trade and economic growth. It should therefore be supported in its effort to face the energy transition and remain a key priority for policy makers and Member States. The success of the Green Deal will depend on the regulatory framework and financial instruments that will be mobilized to support innovation and the implementation of the proposed actions. Legal certainty for private investments as well as a financial stimulation of ?first movers? will be an important cornerstone for the ultimate success of the Green Deal.

ERFA believes it is crucial that the State Aid Guidelines for Railway Undertakings are modernised to take into consideration developments in the rail freight sector over the past eleven years. ERFA therefore calls upon the incoming the European Commission to work towards a revision of the Guidelines for Railway Undertakings.

During the ERFA Board of Directors meeting of 20th November, the ERFA Board of Directors unanimously elected Mr. Dirk Stahl (BLS Cargo) as the new ERFA President. Mr. Maciej Gladyga was elected as the Vice-President of ERFA.

The recent suggestion of Belgian minister of Transport, Mr François Bellot, to revert to the situation before the rail unbundling implemented in 2005 raises serious concerns regarding the impartiality of the infrastructure manager. To accelerate the growth of the European Rail Freight market, and to ensure the true completion of the single European Railway Area, it is crucial that infrastructure managers stay and, in some cases, finally become independent and impartial.

ERFA Appoints Mr. Conor Feighan as New ERFA Secretary General

On 19th of July 2019 the state owned Slovakian Cargo rail company has been condemned for abuse of dominant position for having refused to sell/lease rolling stock. It happened after 10 years judicial proceedings. Penalties for such unacceptable attitude are too low and delays too long. Read the ERFA press release for more details.

ERFA and ALLRAIL join forces to make rail traffic grow. List of improvements sent to the new MEPs at the starting point of the new legislative period. Second hand rolling stock market is key for freight.

ERFA welcomes the European Commission?s decision to prohibit the merger between Siemens and Alstom. Siemens-Alstom: thanks to the Commission for its perseverance in the enforcement of competition rules. Next step: to ask for a real market access reciprocity.