NEE Survey Shows Clear Majority for Prioritizing Rail

Almost two-thirds of the population indicates in a representative opinion poll launched by the Network of European Railways (NEE) that priority should be given to rail in freight transport. When it comes to preferred infrastructure investments, Germans also favor rail by a significant margin over road.

(Berlin) In an opinion poll commissioned by the Network of European Railways, 63% of respondents stated that they would prefer prioritizing rail in freight transport. Only half as many (32%) prefer climate-friendly trucks powered by alternative fuels. “Trust in rail is there. Other truck drives, which are not yet available, are seen by fewer people as a solution to future problems than politicians assume,” says Peter Westenberger, Managing Director of NEE. “The new federal government must take up this majority wish and prioritize rail instead of getting sidetracked. The endless debates about truck drive alternatives that are not available today risk compliance with climate goals and must be integrated into a cross-modal concept with rail as the backbone in the new legislative period. Backbone means that in a few years, truck trips over 250 kilometers should be the exception and road vehicles should primarily be powered by battery technology.”

Low Support for New Road Construction

It is also striking that there is low support for new road construction. When asked how the state should respond to the upcoming challenges posed by growing freight transport, only 10% of respondents supported this measure. Overhead line trucks received only 17% support. “The frustration over truck queues that clog highways and rumble through towns is enormous. People increasingly see that a simple switch to alternative fuels will not solve the problems,” says Westenberger. In contrast, the expansion of rail infrastructure enjoys support from almost 60% of the 1,017 respondents.

The current federal government’s budget proposal, which includes a significant underfunding of rail infrastructure construction with 2 billion euros starting in 2023, contradicts both the majority of the population and the political consensus to enhance rail. “The transport minister and the election programs of the governing parties are laboriously trying to create the impression that rail is being enhanced – the budget speaks a clear different language,” says Westenberger.

The detailed figures from the opinion poll can be found here.

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