01/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - Several railway freight associations have welcomed the political agreement on the second railway package reached on Friday at the Transport Council (see EUROPE 29 march p 11 and 1 April p 9). In their respective press statements, the European Rail Freight Association (ERFA), the European Organisation for Forwarding and Logistics (CLECAT) and the European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM) express hope that the Council will rapidly reach a common position. While the ERFAC and the CLECAT would have like the cabotage to be aligned on that of international freight, 1 January 2006 in stead of 1 January 2008, the EIM is requesting the setting up of coon standards of inter-operability (technical standards) to be carried out in phases depending on what funding is needed.