Combined rail freight transport, in which goods and merchandise in loading units cover the longest part of the transport route by rail and are only transported by truck on the road for short regional distances, has been the growth driver of rail freight transport for many years – a beacon of hope for greater environmental protection and the necessary transport revolution. Now it is at a turning point. After years of growing challenges, the system's performance is at risk of eroding – with consequences for climate protection, security of supply and competitiveness.

The effects of the ongoing construction work on the German rail network (keyword: general renovation), with entire sections of track closed for long periods, are dramatically exacerbating the situation. In some cases, diversions are more than doubling the number of kilometres travelled, which means twice as many train drivers and locomotives are needed, resulting in a huge increase in costs. This results in massive train delays and numerous train cancellations.

Freight forwarders who use the combined transport system are increasingly forced to organise replacement transport via motorways in order to continue to serve industry and trade reliably. More and more transport is returning to the roads – a process that is already visible and unlikely to be reversed in the medium term. On the transalpine corridors through Austria and Switzerland alone, there is a threat of up to 500,000 additional lorry journeys – with more emissions, traffic jams and accident risks.

The construction work, which will involve complete closures lasting several months, is increasingly threatening the existence of rail transport and freight forwarding companies that have relied on rail to date. The security of supply for industry, the competitiveness of Germany as a business location and European climate targets are also at risk.

Sources:

100 days of corridor renovation between Hamburg and Berlin: fears confirmed – and ‘winter is coming’
https://db-watch.de/100-tage-korridorsanierung-hamburg-berlin-befuerchtungen-bestaetigt-und-winter-is-coming/