ERFA welcomes the Fit For 55 Package which was unveiled by the European Commission on 14 July 2021, particularly regarding the recognition that there is a need to address emissions from other transport modes, but calls on policy makers not to lose sight of the modal shift objectives set out in the European Commission?s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

Overview of ERFA activities and developments within the organisation throughout 2020. The Annual Report includes a strong focus on the work of ERFA to support private and independent rail freight companies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joint industry position of CER, ERFA and UIRR on the need to rethink transport charging and pricing principles taking into consideration Eurovignette negotiations and the European Commission's Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

The recently published 9th Annual Market Monitoring Report of the European Regulatory Bodies confirms that the number of non-incumbent operators in the rail freight market is continuing to grow throughout the European Union. 2019 saw non-incumbent operators pass the milestone of one third of the rail freight market, accounting for 35% of national rail freight markets on average.

ERFA strongly supports the proposal of Germany to reduce track access charges for rail freight by 98% from March 2020 until the end of 2021, subject to an extension of the existing European legal framework allowing Member States to waive and reduce track access charges. ERFA continues to stress that such measures remain the best means to support the rail freight industry through the COVID-19 pandemic in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner. However, caution is needed to ensure that proposed direct support to the incumbent holding company does not result in cross-subsidisation or other activities.

ERFA welcomes the Joint Position Paper of a majority of EU Member States which was discussed during the informal Council of Transport Ministers meeting of 30 March 2021. This initiative, taken during the European Year of Rail, clearly shows that growing rail freight is a priority for a majority of Member States.

A broad coalition of European transport associations jointly call on Member States and the European Commission to ensure that the transport sector receives adequate consideration in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans.

The recently published European Commission seventh monitoring report on the development of the rail freight market has shown that rail freight growth remains stagnant, whilst the share of new entrants is constantly growing. If Europe is to meet its objectives of 50% growth of rail freight by 2030 and doubling by 2050, it is of utmost importance that ambitious measures are taken to grow the sector whilst also supporting private and independent operators in a fair and transparent way. In this regard it is imperative that momentum is not lost by Member States on the possibility to waive and reduce track access charges.

ERFA is happy to announce Captrain Italia as the newest member of ERFA. Founded in 1998, Captrain Italia is the second largest operator in the Italian rail freight market with 10% of total market share. With a fleet of 70 locomotives, Captrain Italia is in a strong position to further grow its market share. Captrain Italia offers services throughout Italy and at strategic border crossings.

In advance of tomorrow's expected adoption of the Council first reading position on Eurovignette Directive reform, the European rail freight sector (ERFA, CER, UIRR) has significant concerns about the Council position, as it runs contrary to the shared climate and transport policy objectives of the Member States themselves:

ERFA welcomes the final adoption of 2021 as the European Year of Rail during the European Parliament Plenary Session today. The European Year of Rail should serve as the moment to highlight the benefits of rail, but also to openly discuss how the sector can further contribute to Europe?s economic and climate related goals. The European Year of Rail will be a unique occasion to finally deliver a legal framework that meets the needs of rail freight.

The publication of the European Commission's Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy signals the beginning of a process to deliver a legal framework which meets the needs of the rail freight industry. ERFA welcomes the publication of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and anticipates an ambitious revision of the key legal texts included within the Strategy.