On Tuesday 21 May, the European Commission announced that it had authorised a German aid scheme worth €1.7 billion over five years to support certain rail freight operators. The measure will remain open until 2029.
The maximum annual budget is €320 million.
The measure applies to single wagon transport, where individual wagons or sets of wagons from different shippers are grouped together to form a single train.
And, the measure will also support group wagon transport, i.e. where a set of wagons retains the same composition from the journey’s point of departure to its destination. The latter mode of transport will be eligible for journeys of up to 300 km if operated by short block trains including up to 15 wagons.
The aid will reach eligible companies in the form of direct grants.
The Commission found that the measure complied with EU rules on State aid, in particular with Article 93 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the 2008 guidelines on State aid for railway undertakings. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)