Lineas, Europe’s largest private rail freight operator, has released a two-page memorandum emphasizing the critical role of rail freight in Belgium's transportation sector. The document highlights the benefits of rail freight, not only in reducing road congestion and mitigating climate impact but also in connecting Belgium’s industries and ports with the rest of Europe. This connectivity, the memorandum suggests, provides Belgium with a competitive edge over neighboring countries such as France and Germany.
The memorandum outlines several strategies and actions that are necessary to strengthen and sustain the rail freight sector. These strategies are aimed at maintaining rail freight as a viable and sustainable transportation option, vital for the industrial development of the region.
Key Points from the Memorandum:
- Road Decongestion: Rail freight significantly reduces road traffic, with one train replacing approximately 50 trucks. This reduction contributes to safer roads, as rail is 80 to 100 times safer than road transport.
- Energy and Emissions: Rail is more energy-efficient, consuming six times less energy and emitting six times less CO2 than road transport. The transition to electric and hybrid locomotives is highlighted as a crucial step toward carbon neutrality.
- Employment: Rail freight creates more local jobs compared to long-distance road transport, contributing to regional economic stability.
- Competitive Disparities: The memorandum raises concerns about the competitive disparities caused by state aid to state-owned rail companies, which distorts the European market. Lineas calls for federal government support to address these imbalances.
- Infrastructure Needs: The document underscores the need for substantial investment in rail infrastructure, which has been underfunded, affecting reliability and capacity. It also calls for a reevaluation of the priority given to passenger transport over freight on shared rail networks.
- Multimodal Transport: The memorandum advocates for better integration of road and rail transport systems, proposing incentives for road transport companies to offer multimodal solutions, thus enhancing the overall efficiency of freight transport in Belgium.
