Presentation of the definitive solution to the European environmental mobility challenge​

The European Parliament Committee on Transport describes the FERRMED study as a key tool to guide upcoming infrastructure investments.

The contribution provides the only solution to promote rail freight transport.

 Brussels, 29 of November 2023

The European Parliament’s Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, Ms. Karima Delli, argues that FERRMED’s Study on Traffic and Modal Change Optimization in the EU is an extremely valuable and timely tool to guide investments to develop European transport infrastructure. Delli shared her comments during the presentation of the final conclusions of the study, in Brussels.

 

In this context, Keir Fitch, head of the railway safety unit at DG Move, the European Commissions’ body for transport policy, stressed that the FERRMED study arrives at the perfect time to ensure that Europe invests where it is necessary to ensure that the railway reaches the required efficiency quotas.  Fitch weighed FERRMED’s call for EU member states to leave behind internal regulations and embrace the study’s findings.

 

The president of FERRMED, Joan Amorós, claimed that this body of work becomes the definitive solution to promote rail freight transport. Amorós added that the conclusions of the text provide the only viable way to achieve the environmental objectives established by the European Green Deal for 2030 by reducing 65 million tons of CO2 emissions per year.

 

The analysis, which began in 2019 and concluded after 45,000 combined hours of work, concludes that investing in 23% of the European central railway network identified by FERRMED generates a socio-economic and environmental contribution of 101% of the present added net value.

 

FERRMED proposes to implement its integrated, fast, and flexible rail transport system, +FIRRST, to boost rail’s contribution to the now stagnant freight transport network.

 

The analysis claims that 1,939 km of new lines and 425 new intermodal terminals are needed to achieve the targetsidentified in the European White Paper on Transport, in addition to the investments planned by the Member States. The study’s action plan would reduce the cost of transport operations by 52% and transport externalities by 77%.

 

Today’s presentation in Brussels was attended by representatives of the International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR); of the World Road Transport Organization (IRU); of the European Rail Freight Association (ERFA); of the European Shippers’ Council (ESC); of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC); and of the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services, (CLECAT).

 

It was also attended by a hundred representatives from all the EU’s logistics and transport socio-economic sectors.

 

Preamble of personalities to the FERRMED study

Ms. Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport

Completing the single market in railways is an integral part of this vision.

As outlined in this Study, data suggests that container trains have real potential to increase rail freight traffic.

 

Ms. Karima DELLI, chair, Committee on Transport, European Parliament

The FERRMED “Study of Traffic and Modal Shift Optimisation in the EU” becomes an extremely valuable and timely input. It provides a unique compass in orienting the upcoming years’ investments – both Union and national, public, and private – towards the most added-value European projects.

 

Mr. Alberto MAZZOLA, President, Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER)

This FERRMED Study is certainly a very timely contribution to the modification of the TEN-T Regulation. The Action Plan proposed by the study is based on comprehensive data collection on freight flows and supported by a socio-economic and environmental impact assessment.

 

Mr. Josef DOPPELBAUER, Executive Director, European Railway Agency (ERA)

The FERRMED Study has made a most valuable contribution to the debate,attributing recommendations and action pointsto the European Commission, the Council, and the Parliament, the Member States, and the European railway sector.

 

Mr. Godfried SMIT, Secretary General, European Shippers Council (ESC)

What makes this study so valuable is that it reveals where investments can pay off mostand which innovations can contribute to increasing efficient rail freight transport.

 

Ms. Raluca MARIAN, Director, EU Advocacy and General Delegate of IRU’s Permanent Delegation to the European Union International Road Transport Union (IRU)

The FERRMED Study is timely (…) and sets very ambitious objectives which are necessary for palpable change. This Study merits thorough examination and consideration.

 

Mr. Ralf-Charley SCHULTZE, President of the UIRR, the international union for road-rail combined Image transport in Brussels

FERRMED conducted this substantial Study to quantify the infrastructure aspects of having more road-rail Combined Transport. I congratulate FERRMED for its hard work.

 

Mr. Josep Maria ROVIRA, Secretary General, FERRMED

It was decided to create international working groups within FERRMED, which would be open to all interested parties.

These working groups concluded that a prospective study needed to be done to explore the advantages of concentrating actions on the most crowded sections of the Trans European Network.

Overall, the study has involved more than 45,000 hours of work.

 

Mr. Joan AMORÓS, President, FERRMED

FERRMED launched in June 2019 the “FERRMED Study of Traffic and Modal Shift Optimisation in the EU”. As far as we know, there has never been a study or any research undertaken with inventories of road and rail infrastructures as well as intermodal terminals, with the level of detail achieved in the FERRMED Study. 

 

Main conclusions

Investing in 23% of the EU Extended Core Network generates 101% of net present value (NPV) contribution, socio-economically and environmentally. 

Implementing the Fast Flexible Integrated Rail-Road System of Transport (+FIRRST) is the best way to boost the stagnant share of the railway in land freight transport. 

In summary, to achieve the EC White Paper on Transport Policy targets identified by EU Member States, some 1.939 km of new lines and 425 new intermodal terminals are required. 

Key achievements: 52% operational cost reduction, 77% externality  reduction.

 

Read the full report here

 

See the full conference recording

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