Much more freight should be moved off the roads and onto railways if the rise in emissions in the freight transport sector is to be curbed and then reduced, the European Committee of the Regions said in a set of recommendations adopted on 1 February.
The opinion, drafted by José Ribau Esteves, (PT/EPP), mayor of Aveiro, broadly backs a set of legislative proposals put forward by the European Commission in a new Greening Freight Package and an update of the EU’s Combined Transport Directive. The proposals to increase the efficiency of freight transport services and support a shift to greener transport options. The CoR’s recommendations emphasise the needs of benefits, including better rail links and a reduction in heavy traffic on roads.
Rail transport networks promote territorial and social cohesion
CoR members endorsed the proposal to encourage a shift in freight transport to the rail system, citing its lower environmental and energy impact. They emphasised the need to enhance infrastructure management and optimise rail services to bolster the competitiveness of EU regions and cities and contribute to decarbonisation efforts.
The opinion pointed out that to improve the functioning of the railway market in the EU a regulatory entity is needed which would guarantee harmonisation of the railway system (including digitalisation) and better allocation of capacity. It would also be important to implement the International Union of Railways (UIC) gauge throughout Europe.
Swift action should be taken to increase rail capacity, while more flexible management is needed to cope with the last-minute needs of rail operators and the market.
The Committee emphasised that connecting Europe's regions and territories to guarantee territorial and social cohesion should be the primary objective of rail transport.
Shift to intermodal freight transport
In their recommendations, CoR members support the development intermodal transportation, which combines different modes of transport, as a means of improving sustainability in the sector. The opinion calls for railways and waterways to be prioritised, minimising the need for road transport. Further regulatory and economic measures will be needed to encourage the shift to intermodal transport.
Low-emission lorries
The opinion by regions and cities calls for stronger incentives for low-emission lorries, only for short distances and when the topography of the areas and characteristics of the railway infrastructure allows. Better data on emissions from freight transport is also necessary.
These steps would support the EU's Green Deal goal of reducing transport emissions by 90% by 2050, allowing for continued growth in the EU single market and economy.
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Rapporteur José Ribau Esteves (PT/EPP), mayor of Aveiro, said: "Europe must increase the competitiveness and efficiency of rail freight transport, ensure cooperation between managers of infrastructure and transport operations between Member States, and improve the environmental performance of transport. It can do this by encouraging a shift in operations to more efficient environmentally friendly modes of transport, which reach all European cities and regions, contributing to territorial and social cohesion."
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Freight transport is the backbone of the EU's single market, responsible for supplying supermarkets, factories, and the whole of commerce. It employed around 6 million people in 2020. However, freight transport is also responsible for more than 30% of CO2 emissions from transport and, if decarbonisation measures are not adopted, the sector’s emissions are expected to grow by 25% by 2030 and 50% by 2050.
In July 2023, the European Commission published the Greening Freight Package to make the European mobility and transport more sustainable. The package aims to enhance the efficiency of goods transportation.
In November 2023, the European Commission published another legislative proposal with a special relation with the "Greening Freight Transport", a recast of the "Combined Transport Directive". The issue of better transport with lower emissions needs to put in place a multimodal transport system.
The Greening Freight Package consists of the following four legislative proposals:
- The revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive (96/53/EC);
- A draft Regulation on the use of railway infrastructure capacity in the Single European railway area;
- A draft Regulation for a harmonised framework for greenhouse gas emissions accounting of freight and passenger transport services (CountEmissionsEU);
A draft Directive establishing a support framework for intermodal transport of goods as regards calculation of external costs ("Combined Transport Directive").