To ensure the development of transport activities rail freight policy, European policy focuses on the efficiency of rail infrastructure, creation of the Single European Railway Area and the improvement of the competitiveness of rail cargo. He highlighted this today the European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) on the occasion of the annual event attended by industry experts and representatives of European politics, a meeting during which The association presented its 2024-2029 Manifesto which identifies the key issues facing the EU institutions and the Member States of the Union should address in the course of this European legislation to enable rail transport of the to contribute to the European Union's objectives in this area. mobility and emission reduction.

In particular, the manifesto explains that the infrastructures European railway networks need to be renewed and the network TEN-T infrastructure infrastructure needs to be completed, ensuring that the at the same time that in the coming years the temporary reductions in network capacity has the least negative impact on the transport of goods by rail. According to the ERFA, this should be also guaranteed through adequate financial compensation railway undertakings affected by the restrictions and, in the opinion of the of the association, the EU should build on the model Swiss.

In addition, the ERFA manifesto notes the need for a re-evaluation and development of the rules and schemes relating to charges for access to the rail network in order to encourage the use of railways for the transport of goods. In specifically, the association underlined the need to have a stable multiannual framework and significant measures such as the German TraFöG, a measure through which the Federal Republic finances part of the transport costs rail freight through financing proportional to the prices of train paths, with resources that in 2024 are equal to to 229.5 million euros. According to the ERFA, measures to support These costs should be the main tool and not the main to support rail cargo, while avoiding to subsidise specific segments of the market or to subsidise directly some companies.

The manifesto also emphasizes the need for absolute priorities for the implementation of European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) whose implementation - specified the ERFA - must be implemented with reliable plans and coordinated with availability of on-board equipment. For the association, the costs for the installation of the necessary on-board equipment should be fully subsidised since there would be no added value for companies in the adoption of these technologies.

As regards the establishment of the Single European Railway Area, according to the ERFA it should be completed by reducing bureaucracy, simplifying language requirements and Certification for railway licences and equipment rolling.