Dutch track access charges to be lowered to "German level" 26/10/18

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July 2018

Dutch track access charges will be reduced significantly next year to be in line with the German tariffs, which should be reduced by half by the end of 2018. This is part of a measure package proposed by the Dutch government and various rail freight industry associations to create a level playing field for the Dutch rail freight sector.

The measures come after years of negotiations held with the Spoorgoederentafel, a platform consisting of rail freight operators, shippers, seaports and Dutch rail infrastructure manager ProRail. The aim is to increase rail freight volumes by up to 50% until 2030. Apart from lowering the infrastructure access fees, the government will utilise national and European funds to facilitate the transition to ERTMS, and modifications will be made to enable driving with longer trains, up to a length of 740 metres.

An annual grant amount of €12 to14 million will be made available, starting in 2019 and up until 2023. The effectiveness of the measure will be evaluated in 2021.

For the introduction of the digital railway signalling system ERTMS, the government has committed to making every effort to provide national and European funds. The transition to ERTMS, which is considered to be complex, will be set up in such a way that it enables a healthy profitable growth of rail freight transport.

More capacity will be created for trains up to 740-metre in order to level with similar plans in Germany, reducing costs of transport for shippers. Moreover, efforts will be taken to operate quieter rolling stock and eco-friendly locomotives, and research will be carried out into possibilities for low-vibration bogies.

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#PoRF

#State_aid_to_rail-freight

#Netherlands

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