BÖB Welcomes Increase in Funding for Inland Ports

Yesterday, the Federal Cabinet approved the government draft for the 2024 budget year. It is a draft with both light and shadow. The funding programs important for inland ports for non-federal railways and combined transport are significantly strengthened. Given the overall budget situation and the distribution battles within the federal government as part of budget consolidation, there were also concerns about budget cuts in the area of waterways.

For the waterways, the federal government now plans 1.77 billion euros – about 400 million euros more than in 2023, but still approximately 200 million euros below the actual annual need of 2 billion euros.

BÖB President Joachim Zimmermann: “The increase of the waterways budget to 1.77 billion euros is a step in the right direction, showing that the waterways system is regaining importance in federal political perception. Together with the Association for European Inland Navigation and Waterways, we have strongly advocated for more funds in many discussions with the federal government and federal politics. These discussions have evidently had an effect. The additional funds for maintenance tasks and expansion and new construction are particularly welcome. We also welcome the announcement of funding for scheduled services for large and heavy goods on the waterways.

The budget draft for the waterways is therefore better than feared. However, there is still a gap to the actual need of 2 billion euros. We are counting on the support of Parliament to improve the government draft again in the budget negotiations in the fall – just as we did last year.”

Increase in Contributions for Port Railways

For inland ports, the second environmentally friendly mode of transport, rail, is also central. About one-third of German rail freight traffic passes through the ports. The Rail Freight Transport Network Funding Act (SGFFG) allows for funding for port railways and service facilities in ports. The federal government has almost tripled the funding from 25 to 42.5 to now 66 million euros within three years. The steadily increasing combined transport in the inland ports will also receive 15 million euros more next year.

Joachim Zimmermann: “We expressly welcome that the federal government continues to support the importance of ports for rail freight transport. With 66 million euros, there will be more money than ever for SGFFG funding in 2024. We have strongly advocated for inland ports for this, and we are pleased that our arguments have been heard. However, it still needs to be clarified in the SGFFG that the expansion and new construction of port railways are also eligible for funding. The cap limit of 2 million euros for inland ports should also be removed so that we can implement larger projects and utilize our potential even better.

Combined Transport in the Ports: A Success Story

Combined transport in our ports is a success story. With the improved funding guidelines, we will be able to further expand our capacities. An additional 15 million euros for 2024 is a logical step. Even more important than the increase in 2024 are the additional commitment authorizations, without which many multi-year funding projects in the combined transport sector would not be feasible. We have repeatedly advocated for this increase in recent years in close cooperation with VDV, DSLV, and SGKV.”

Photo: © Loginfo24 / Image Caption: The MS “Grindelwald” passes Düsseldorf downstream