In 2023, the European combined transport registered a reduction of 10,57% in the number of consignments transported and a smaller 9,39% contraction in the tonne-kilometre performance, the International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR) says.
The association says that the number of consignments was more than 4.55 million in 2023, compared to over 5 million in the previous year. The performance reduced from 88.5 tonne-kilometre in 2023 to 80 tonne-kilometre in the last year.
This reduction of the European combined transport was related to the mix of economic downturn, high inflation, war-effects, strikes, natural disasters, accidents and extensive works- and climate-change-related disturbances, that simultaneously appeared over the course of the year.
During a meeting of the General Assembly of UIRR on May 17, 2024, the combined transport operator and transhipment terminal manager members of UIRR, the representatives of technology partners and national peer associations and the Director General of DG Move Magda Kopczyńska, identified these reasons as the main causes of the disappointing result. At the meeting, the participants also discussed the challenges of today and tomorrow.
The assembly defined potential productivity gains inside the intermodal value chain to improve the attractiveness of Combined Transport. Measures were also discussed on how combined transport can support European resilience and competitiveness alongside the Green Deal.
“The members of UIRR, looking for a way to regain the growth momentum necessary to achieve both business and public policy objectives, have set today a growth target of reaching 6 million consignments by 2030. The adoption of a policy expectations paper to reach this target will be the first task of the new Board of Directors,” UIRR Director General, Ralf-Charley Schultze said.
Going forward, the European combined transport community was unified in the call for more and better-quality train paths for freight trains, effective crisis management by both the EU and individual Member States, constructive completion of ongoing legislative dossiers, and correct implementation of recently adopted EU law.
Class A directors of UIRR’s board are senior managers of combined transport operators coming from throughout Europe. The Class B Director speaks for the terminal manager members. The constitutive meeting of the Board of Directors will take place this month to elect the Chair and Vice-Chair of UIRR.
Share on:
