Around 20 freight transport organisations, including the ERFA (European Rail Freight Association) and the ESC (European Shippers’ Council), sent a letter to the Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc and the German Minister for Transport, Alexander Dobrint, on Monday 4 September. In their letter, they express their regret regarding the repercussions of the Rastatt tunnel accident on 12 August last.
According to these organisations, railway freight companies are only able to take charge of 25% of the volumes normally transported, following the diversion itinerary introduced to compensate for the transport disruption up until 7 October next. Intermodal transport is also affected because the goods transported in these areas of transport only account for 15% of the usual volume.
Sector representatives argue that this accident highlights the shortcomings in railway freight transport in Europe, such as the lack of replacement routes or international coordination on railway infrastructure building sites.
They are therefore calling on the European Commissioner and German Minister to set up a working group at a ministerial/and or Union level, which includes infrastructure operators, as a means to tackle this kind of crisis. They would also like to introduce simplified operational procedures for replacement routes and to provide support for freight businesses affected by the temporary closure of the Rastatt tunnel. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)