Position Paper: TEN-T Guidelines Regulation for multimodal freight terminals

TEN-T Guidelines Regulation for multimodal freight terminals[1]

Main messages

• The recognition is essential that multimodal freight terminals ensure the access for freight to the modernised TEN-T infrastructure network.
• The definition of the infrastructure of terminals and the requirements towards multimodal freight terminals is viewed positively since this will result in an increased harmonisation of terminals resulting in a more standardised service. It is crucial that the definitions, technical- and operational requirements contained in the Regulation are understood and applied in a harmonised manner throughout the European Union to which UIRR provides several insights in this paper:
  • Interconnecting road and rail infrastructure,
  • Transhipment equipment and technologies,
  • Gate, buffer and transhipment areas, as well as driving and transhipment lanes,
  • ICT systems of the terminal,
  • Alternative fuelling infrastructure,
  • Digital tools and capabilities of a terminal,
  • Digital data exchange capabilities of a terminal,
  • Capability to receive, tranship and temporarily store various classes of dangerous goods,
  • The efficient handling of 740m long trains,
  • Rules and processes to be followed prior to submitting an exemption request to the European Commission,
  • Digitalisation of data processing,
  • Harmonised data communication across and between the modes and
  • The effective promotion of multimodal transport solutions.

• The market and prospective analysis on multimodal freight terminals, to be performed by each Member State, should be done in a harmonised structure using the same definitions and methods.
  • The practice of identifying TEN-T terminal locations and registering the in Annex II of the Regulation,
  • Current and future flow of goods,
  • Harmonised methodology for establishing the actual transhipment capacity of a terminal, and
  • The catchment area of a terminal should be established.

• The role of and the necessary reliance on private capital in the development of multimodal terminals, as well as the need to respect the freedom of private property

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[1] The TEN-T Regulation uses the term ’multimodal freight terminals’ that are defined as „a structure equipped for transhipment between at least two transport modes, or between two different rail systems, and for temporary storage of freight, such as terminals in inland or maritime ports, along inland waterways and in airports, as well as rail road terminals”. 

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