COMMISSION RESPONDS TO CONCERNS OVER EU RAIL FREIGHT COMPETITIVENESS
On 17 August, Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas responded to a parliamentary question from Czech MEP Ondřej Krutílek on the decline in EU rail freight transport, particularly in the single wagonload segment, setting out recent EU measures aimed at supporting the sector.
In his response, Commissioner Tzitzikostas notes that the European rail freight market continues to undergo significant structural change. Traditional block train traffic, particularly for commodities such as coal, metals and chemicals, is declining as industrial and energy patterns change. Intermodal transport, including containers and semi-trailers, is growing, but has not yet compensated for these losses. Single wagon load transport continues to face high operating costs, fragmentation and empty runs, making it difficult to compete with road transport.
He pointed to several EU initiatives aimed at strengthening rail freight competitiveness, including the pilot deployment of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC). The technology could improve the efficiency of single wagon load operations by making shunting faster, safer and less labour-intensive.
He noted that two further measures have entered into force since the Commission last addressed the issue in a Parliamentary Question in 2025. In March 2026, modernised EU state aid rules for transport were adopted, giving Member States greater possibilities to support measures benefiting freight shippers and rail freight operators. Secondly, the Rail Infrastructure Capacity Regulation entered into force in June 2026. The new rules provide for short-term capacity allocation and aim to improve the reliability of train paths for rail freight. These initiatives form part of wider EU efforts to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of European rail freight.