In June, Germany took what was seen as a landmark decision when the government announced that it was going to invest around 350 million Euros to halve track charges for rail freight traffic as part of the ‘Masterplan for Rail Freight’.
Rail Freight organisations in the Netherlands believe that this move could jeopardise the competitive position of the Dutch port as a gate for freight forwarders to the European hinterland, and so are urging their own government to take action to ensure equivalent market conditions.
They say that the competitive position of rail freight is under serious pressure and are asking for a substantial reduction in the infrastructure charge for rail freight transport, so that the track usage costs come in line with truck and inland navigation.