Brussels, 30/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - The FERRMED association held a conference in Brussels on Thursday 26 June on the development of European freight transport. With more than 90 members and now over 200 companies and institutions taking an interest in the project, the association has become a major source of ideas and information for the research and development of European freight. Its project - to promote a major freight line from the north of Africa to Scandinavia by setting FERRMED standards in place to improve European competitiveness, as the president of the association, Jacinto Seguí, pointed out - is along the same lines as the European Commission's European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and the six rail corridors that it plans to put in place. “I regret that freight is not at its technology height and is only slightly liberalised”, admits Eugenio Murzio, President of UIRR, the International Union of combined Road-Rail transport companies, who calls for freight transport to be developed and modernised in Europe.
FERRMED standards and challenges. FERRMED standards were at the heart of this day's debates. In time, certain rail lines could carry heavy, high-speed loads and there could be intermodal terminals for trains of up to 1,500 in length. Very important links with the hinterland throughout the network, respect for environmental standards and approximation of legislation are other preconditions for improving competitiveness in the European freight marketplace. “Fundamentally, the aim is to have rail transport that is as easy and fluid as air traffic”, said Joan Amorós, Secretary General of the association. “Rail construction has practically never been for carrying freight! It will take time to put FERRMED standards in place. There must be priorities, a hierarchy”, the UIC (International Union of Railways) director general, Luc Aliadière, said, adding: “It is not possible to do everything at once! We must be able to see what can be done together and what we are aiming for”. (A.D./transl.jl)