METRANS, Peter Kiss: We need to understand the importance of rail transport 04/02/22
< Retour à la liste
Peter Kiss, president of METRANS: We need to understand the importance of rail transport
Author: TG 2022/02/04
To meet global climate goals, transport must increasingly shift to rail. This well-intentioned policy currently faces numerous obstacles: for example, there is no free capacity for new rail services, and many policy declarations are not followed by concrete action. METRANS, a subsidiary of HHLA, is also struggling with this situation. In the interview below, the CEO of the Metrans Group, Peter Kiss, reaffirms the company's responsibility for climate-friendly transport. However, it also addresses current challenges and stresses that the right conditions must be created.
Climate change will be one of the greatest challenges in the coming years and METRANS wants to be part of the solution. How is the company going to do this?
Under current conditions, freight transport can only function in a climate-friendly way on railways, as other technical solutions have not yet been fully developed. Therefore, as a railway and intermodal company, we bear a lot of responsibility and we are aware of it.
However, we feel a bit abandoned in the implementation of this mission. This is because the circle of companies with which we want to share this responsibility is still too small. For example, very few customers have reserved our sustainable HHLA Pure product for climate-neutral transport between ports and hinterland after its market launch in 2019. We certainly haven't heard anyone say "hooray I want it"
Does this mean that there are many obstacles to climate neutrality?
Looking at the current events affecting energy prices, I have doubts as to whether we will be able to meet our climate goals. Traction energy prices have risen dramatically - by 100 percent in some countries and by as much as 300 percent in Hungary. We cannot accept this. It is now up to politicians to take the appropriate measures.
Nevertheless, we still stick to our goal of transporting more goods in a climate-neutral manner. We are committed to this mission, even if HHLA Pure will cost us three to four times as much in 2022.
The European political sphere is waiting for a transport revolution. Are freight railways firmly established with regard to the regulatory framework and financial subsidies?
Many political actors have not yet understood the potential that rail transport offers. We are not just talking about sustainable development. Rail, for example, was the only mode of transport that was able to reliably fulfill its delivery mission also during the crisis. To maintain this in the future, politicians must create the necessary legislative conditions - both at national level and throughout the EU. We need regulations to subsidize train paths and broad support for combined transport that will benefit all companies equally. The transport revolution can only be realized if we really focus on rail.
Now I have the impression that only the larger players in the markets and their problems are being considered. In contrast, smaller companies and some associations need to be very loud for their demands to be heard. Even these smaller companies play a role and we would like to find a greater resonance among politicians in this field. “The costs need to be attractive enough for shippers to easily switch to rail. Currently, the rail network is still unable to compete with the roads. "
You mentioned combined transport. What should be done to meet the high requirements as quickly as possible?
Combined transport costs need to be attractive enough for shippers to easily switch to rail. To this end, road transport costs have to be substantially adjusted - possibly in proportion to carbon dioxide emissions. Rail transport is much better positioned in this area, but this is not reflected in the price.
Particularly in Germany, the shift from freight to rail is widely discussed. But how is this actually supposed to work if there are no more slots for new rail products? In the area of continental transport, we face rising costs and a lack of capacity. Currently, carriers on railway lines must constantly look for new solutions to ensure stable operation. The rail network is still unable to compete with the roads.
What could network operators in Europe be able to change on their own?
I feel a bit sorry for the infrastructure managers. Politicians set the course, and managers then have to ensure that all transport companies can use the railroad any way they want. Perfect on the best rail routes and without detours. In addition, passenger transport in Germany still has priority over freight transport. Is the transport of goods not so important?
Another problem is that rail transport is not fast enough compared to road transport. Now we hear that freight traffic must travel at a minimum speed of 100 km / h and wait "only" 15 minutes at border crossings. We fully support this. But I doubt that action will follow, as it is still not clear how this promise should be fulfilled.
Who should drive the change?
I think we all need to work together on the whole system. Carriers and logistics operators are also left on their own. Everyone offers some partial solutions, but otherwise nothing happens. Only by improving the overall system will we be able to reliably continue our work in the future.
The entire system would also include shipping companies. Do you see a desire to make changes on their part?
Yes, the fragility of supply chains has changed some things in this area. We are all faced with constant disruptions that start at sea with the arrival of ships. This means that we have to include shipping companies. The situation in some ports also needs to improve, as there are often many construction sites and congested delivery routes along the rail network.
We are not going through difficult times due to the coronavirus pandemic - globalization, digitization and climate change pose drastic challenges for the entire system in terms of stability and reliability. We must all be aware of the benefits that rail transport offers. Most of the METRANS customers have already understood this. And we will intensify our efforts to continue to meet the growing expectations of our customers with the highest quality in the future.
Source: Metrans