Irmtraut Tonndorf
Communication Manager
Tel. 0041 91 6952936 itonndorf@hupac.ch
Positions of Hupac
Set the course to make combined transport competitive
Hupac actively supports the shifting of heavy transport from the roads to the railways. The success of combined transport, however, depends strongly on transport policy and infrastructure framework conditions. Below you will find the positions of Hupac towards some fundamental aspects.
Rail market opening: driving force for modal shift
The liberalisation of the railways represents an enormous opportunity for combined transport and must be resolutely driven forwards. Despite formal liberalisation, the market share of the new railway undertakings is still below 10% on European average. The differences in the single countries clearly indicate that rail freight traffic grows most strongly in those countries in which opening of the market has progressed most. In many cases however, protectionism and tendencies towards remonopolisation restrict the development of rail goods transport.
Positions:
Move rail liberalisation forward across Europe: in Bern, Brussels and in the single European countries
Institution of powerful, independent regulatory bodies which take an active part in accompanying the liberalisation progress
Harmonisation and simplification of the homologation processes for rolling stock and personnel
Dismantling of technical hurdles and market access barriers, in order to give a chance to all railway undertakings in the open rail market
Push for rail infrastructure
In the past few decades, investments have been made in road infrastructures throughout Europe, while railways were frequently neglected. In order to shift freight traffic from road to rail, a Europe-wide, coordinated, long-term infrastructure plan in support of the railways is required.
Positions:
Provide connections to the NEAT railway link in the north and south in due time to prevent bottlenecks
Consistent expansion of the Gotthard corridor for 4-meter semi-trailers: for 2018 already, not 2030!
Eliminate terminal bottlenecks, for example in Rotterdam, Antwerp, Rhine/Ruhr, Eastern Italy, Poland: “No combined transport without terminals!”
Increase rail productivity: longer trains (750 m), higher wagon load capacity (axle load 25 t), more trains in the system (via ERMTS)
Provide sufficient rail capacities for rail freight traffic
Revise priorities: establish equal rights for passenger and freight transports
Reform the weight-based track access system in Switzerland: stop discriminating against freight traffic!
Effective development of combined transport in line with market requirements
The new Swiss law on shifting goods transport for the 2011-2018 period is expected to point the way for the development of combined transport. The main demands of Hupac are a restriction on the capacity expansion of the Rolling Highway to a maximum of 200,000 lorry spaces per year and continued subsidies for combined transport at the present level. Until the opening of the flat rail route through the Gotthard, envisaged in about ten years’ time, the railways will require the same level of subsidies in order to remain competitive against the road.
Another issue is the discussion held in many European countries regarding the introduction of extra-long vehicles for road freight transports, the so-called giga-liners. Because of the enormous productivity gain which can be achieved with these vehicles, there is a risk that transports will be shifted from the railroad back to the road.
Positions:
Adequate support to combined transport until the NEAT corridor opens up
Use scarce rail capacities efficiently: concentrated expansion of efficient UCT, Rola to be offered as an additional alternative
Alpine Crossing Exchange: risks outweighing chances due to a lengthy negotiation process with EU; no shift effect for the period between 2011 and 2018
No distortion of competition between road and rail by admitting giga-liners
