CT services in Europe slightly decrease in Q3 2024 13/11/24
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Combined transport services in Europe slightly decrease in Q3 2024
Combined transport in Europe dropped by 0.79 per cent in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, mostly due to interruptions of traffic caused by infrastructure works. Another main issue was “Europe’s unpreparedness for climate change-related weather extremities”, said the European combined transport association UIRR.
The 0.79 per cent increase comes after a small rebound in Q2 2024, which saw an increase of 4,25 per cent. The latest trend reflects the general one concerning combined transport over the past few months, with five consecutive negative quarters up until the end of 2023. For the totality of 2023, moreover, combined transport services decreased by 10,57 per cent.
mong the main line closures that hampered combined transport services, UIRR mentioned the 21-day closure of the Rhine Valley line in Germany as well as the closure of the Frejus Railway, the main border crossing between Italy and France. If an alternative was quickly found for the former one, with a diversion route through France, the total closure of the latter will remain until spring 2025.
Climate change
Other than infrastructure works, the drop in combined transport services can be linked to climate change. “A standing European-level crisis and contingency mechanism would need to be established to help minimise the disruptions caused to cross-border traffic, especially since the frequency of such events is likely to increase in the future”, UIRR pointed out. Over the past few months, floods and other extreme weather phenomena have already caused significant disruptions in Italy, Austria, Czechia, Poland, Romania and Spain, among others.