11/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on Thursday 11 October, the Community for European Railways (CER) welcomed Germany's rejection of “gigaliners”. Meeting up the previous day in Merseburg (Germany), the college of ministers for transport from the German regions (Länder) came out against the use of gigaliners in Germany. The CER said that the damage caused by these lorries (which are over 25 metres long and weigh 60 tonnes) to German infrastructure would be too great. Basing their opinion on the finding of trials carried out in certain regions (EUROPE 9370) and a study by the Federal Research Institute (BASt), ministers are particularly afraid that bridges will not be able to take the weight of the vehicles. In November the European Commission is launching a study on the effects of the gigaliners (they are currently only authorised in Finland and Sweden). These results are expected in May 2008. (aby)