Associations Want to Keep Lifelines Open with Freight Rail!

Rail freight transport is a backbone of supply security during the Corona crisis for both the population and industry. Leading companies and associations in the rail sector have reaffirmed this and outlined necessary measures.

(Berlin, 26.03.2020) On the occasion of today’s press conference by Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer and Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner regarding the current developments in food supply, supply chains, mobility, and logistics, DVF Managing Director Dr. Heike van Hoorn emphasizes the challenges for the mobility sector and the necessary changes to the framework conditions: “In light of border closures and kilometers of traffic jams, freight rail can partially take over truck traffic, especially for long distances. For freight trains to operate unhindered, we need childcare for train staff, hotels at the location for personnel changes, and extended opening hours at the terminals of combined transport, meaning 24-hour operations. We must collaborate more across modes of transport and integrate other transport means into our transport chains.”

Van Hoorn continued: “In our charter, we have considered various scenarios, as the developments are currently unpredictable for anyone. There may be an increase in traffic volume as truck loads need to be taken off the road, or the opposite may occur. The rail sector will conceptually and organizationally prepare the possibilities with the industry to respond as best as possible to the changes that occur.”

The signatories include the German Transport Forum DVF, Deutsche Bahn AG, Kombiverkehr, Hamburg Port Authority HPA, Allianz pro Schiene, Federal Association of Freight Transport, Logistics and Disposal BGL, Association of German Transport Companies VDV, Association of the Railway Industry in Germany VDB, Network of European Railways NEE, Mofair, and the Association of Freight Wagon Holders in Germany.

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https://www.verkehrsforum.de