Brussels, 11/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission gave its go-ahead to an Italian aid system aimed at reducing the competitive disadvantages suffered by rail freight and combined transport in comparison with road transport. The aid measures will be intended to improve freight transport services and comprise: - aid awarded to companies that undertake to make use of a minimum annual quantity of block trains for combined transport or for the transport of dangerous goods; - investment aid for the development of the transport of goods by rail; - aid awarded to railway undertakings which commit themselves to realising a certain number of train-kilometers within the national territory for combined transport and the accompanied transport of goods; - and tariff reductions for passenger transport by rail. A fund will be created to finance such measures and the Italian government will provide a contribution of a total of EUR 487.5 million, during fifteen years, to a financial body designed by ministerial decree, allowing loans contracted by the beneficiaries of the system to be repaid. By way of example, one of the measures that is part of this system is the experimental rolling motorway service between Lyons and Turin. (see other article).