Baltic Press - Baltic Transport Journal

Each Baltic Transport Journal issue features a special Just One Question section, where we ask industry managers and experts about important topics surrounding BSR transport.

Everybody’s talking about the liberalization of the rail market in the European Union. But when it comes to figures, everybody agrees that the railway share in the whole European cargo transportation sector is not satisfactory. Does it mean the idea of shifting cargo from road to rail is wrong or is there a need for more deregulation? Or maybe there’s a different explanation. As usual we asked managers and experts from the branch for their opinions.

What are the most important barriers to the rail freight movement in the EU right now?

Dariusz Stefanski, President of the Board, PCC Intermodal SA:
Being optimistic about intermodality in the future, I even dare to say that in a few years’ time no-one will transport containers from the North Sea ports to Central Europe by trucks anymore. Meanwhile I do see a lot of problems. [read more]

Rodan Šenekl, Commercial Director CD Cargo a.s., The Czech Railways:
There are two main barriers. First: still too high access fees to railway infrastructure, not comparable to the costs of using roads. This is an outcome of wrong transport policies in Central European countries, and still unsolved internalization of external costs of road transport. [read more]

Alberto Grisone, Business Manager Project Development & Strategy, Hupac Intermodal SA:
Today’s railway transport, and intermodal in particular, has to cope with a large number of infrastructure problems, first of all the lack of transhipment terminals in all main European economic areas. [read more]

Matti Andersson, Marketing Manager, International Trade and Service Providers, VR Cargo Ltd, The Finnish Railways:
I do not see major barriers in the Finnish domestic rail freight business that would prevent growth in the long-run. However, the high market share of rail freight (25% in tonne-kilometres) in Finland means that big increases are rather challenging right now. [read more]

Matej Augustin, Chief Executive Officer, ZSSK Cargo a.s., The Slovak Railways:
Rail freight companies are still too much burdened with the costs of building and maintaining railway infrastructure, which stops many businesses from making their commercial policy more flexible. The winner of this is clearly road transport. [read more]

Dr. Klaus Kremper, Chairman of the Management Board, Railion Deutschland AG:
Liberalization has, without a doubt, provided a burst of development in Europe’s most environmentally friendly mode of freight transportation. It’s just a shame that it hasn’t been implemented quickly in all countries. [read more]