Marco Polo II is good but must be refocused 04/04/05

While hailing the ambitious objectives of Marco Polo II and the increase of the budgetary means dedicated to the sustainable modal shifts of freight, the UIRR considers that the priority should be given to Road-Rail CT and to rail transport as in the railway sector the market liberalisation is just in its beginnings and that, as a consequence, the risk is real to see a shift of freight from rail to road. This dimension is not sufficiently taken into account by Marco Polo II which must consequently be refocused. The UIRR also underlines that studies have shown that the SSS couldn’t be considered as the panacea because of its energetic consumption and its prejudicial consequences on environment.