Freight railways demand monetary equality with road transport

The top officials and managing directors of Austria’s railway companies met at the European Parliament in Brussels on 12th November. On the initiative of Barbara Thaler, Member of the European Parliament and Deputy Transport Spokeswoman, a high-ranking panel discussed the achievements of the railways in Austria and the challenge of getting more people and goods onto the railways throughout Europe.
 
Rail freight transport is facing competitive disadvantages compared to road transport. The chairman of the trade association, Thomas Scheiber, clearly called for equal monetary treatment of rail and road transport.
 
For this is how he specifies: “While every kilometre on the railways is subject to tolls due to use charges, these are not levied everywhere on the roads. And this is why we need appropriate pan-European measures to strengthen rail freight transport.”
 
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