Intermodal operators call for help: Freight shifts back to road, immediate policy response is urgent
Author: Lubomir Cech
31.10.2025 | The signatories call for immediate political engagement to tackle these points and signal readiness for dialogue with decision-makers.
A group of intermodal freight companies and associations has issued a joint open letter to German Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder and the new CEO of Deutsche Bahn, Evelyn Palla, addressing rising concerns over infrastructure bottlenecks, service quality, access charges, and the operational consequences of upcoming full-scale maintenance works on key combined transport corridors.
The letter, signed by Hupac, TX Logistik, ERFA, Fermerci, UIRR, SGKV, and Kombiverkehr, outlines six demands aimed at maintaining competitiveness of rail in intermodal logistics:
- No increase in track access charges in 2026 ("null round")
- Guarantee of at least 90% of current transport capacity during network disruptions
- Upgrade of diversionary routes suitable for freight operations
- Path allocation during capacity constraints based on market needs
- Operational hardship compensation for services running on downgraded lines during corridor renovations
- Suspension of cancellation fees during periods of major disruption
The initiative reflects a coordinated push by multiple stakeholders to address a drop in reliability and service predictability within the intermodal rail sector, combined with rising infrastructure-related costs.