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EU Commission makes greener freight proposal

[ July 12, 2023   //   ]

The EU Commission proposed measures to make freight transport more efficient and sustainable on 11 July, including improving rail infrastructure management and incentives for low-emission lorries.

Freight is responsible for over 30% of transport CO2 emissions, and this is likely to rise if no action is taken, as activity is expected to grow by around 25% by 2030, and 50% by 2050, says the Commission.

The aim is to increase efficiency within the sector, helping it to contribute to the target of cutting transport emissions by 90% by 2050.

The proposed regulation will optimise the use of rail capacity, improve cross-border coordination, increase punctuality and reliability, and ultimately attract more users to rail. The Commission says that current capacity management, which is decided annually, nationally and manually, does not favour cross-border traffic and around 50% of rail freight crosses borders. The fragmented approach leads to delays it says. Delays due to uncoordinated maintenance work are also common, adds the Commission.

The proposal also revises truck rules to allow additional weight for vehicles using zero-emission technology, as the equipment is heavy and eats into payload. The uptake of more aerodynamic cab and other energy-saving devices will also be encouraged.

The proposal will also provide clarity on the use in cross-border traffic, in certain conditions, of heavier and longer vehicles, which are already allowed in some Member States. Those that allow such vehicles in their territories will also be able to use them in international operations among these neighbouring Member States, without a need for a bilateral agreement and without a restriction of crossing only one border.

Weight limits will also be increased for trucks being used to move goods as part of an intermodal movement and height limits will also be relaxed.

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