ECJ RULING ON GERMAN TRACK ACCESS CHARGES OPENS DOOR TO REFUNDS FOR RAIL FREIGHT
On 19 March, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled against Germany’s system for track access charges (TAC), finding that the existing mechanism for local passenger transport is not in line with EU rules. The decision is expected to have significant implications for rail freight operators in Germany.
Since 2016, track access charges for local passenger transport have been linked to increases in regionalisation funds, which support public transport services. As a result, higher costs have been shifted onto rail freight operators, which have faced increased TAC levels to compensate for capped charges in the passenger segment. This has raised concerns about the competitiveness of rail freight compared to other modes of transport.
The ECJ ruling effectively puts an end to this system and is expected to lead to a revision of the German TAC framework. Rail freight stakeholders have long argued that the current structure creates distortions and places an undue financial burden on operators.
The decision could also open the way for substantial financial compensation, with total claims potentially reaching several hundred million euros.
Source: Railfreight.com