photo: Trains.com / Deutsche Bahn / Public domain/Flooded railway tracks, Cologne, Germany
European intermodal rail freight performance declines amid extreme weather and infrastructure closures, with calls for a European-level crisis mechanism and regulatory reforms.
Intermodal rail freight in Europe has faced significant challenges due to infrastructure closures and extreme weather events. Torrential rains and flooding in Central Europe, Northern Italy, Switzerland, and Spain disrupted operations, causing a 0.79% decline in Combined Transport performance during the third quarter of 2024. These disruptions, including the three-week closure of the Rhine Valley line in August, resulted in lost train paths and increased transit costs, despite the successful deployment of a diesel shuttle on the French side of the Rhine, as Hupac reports.
Europe’s Climate Challenges in 2024
Several European countries, including Spain, Austria, Germany, and Poland, experienced devastating floods in early fall 2024, exacerbating challenges for transport infrastructure and local communities. According to CDP, beginning on September 13, Storm Boris brought a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours, causing flash floods and riverine flooding. Thousands of people were displaced, with 26 fatalities reported, including nine in Poland, seven in Romania, and seven in the Czech Republic. The Polish town of Nysa saw 40,000 residents evacuated, while floods in Austria destroyed of over a dozen dams. In Lądek-Zdrój, Poland, three refugee accommodation centers housing 90 Ukrainian mothers and children were rendered uninhabitable. The flooding left a lasting impact on vulnerable populations, and with winter approaching, urgent funds and psychosocial support are needed for recovery. On October 29, Spain suffered its worst disaster in years, with flooding in Mala and Valencia claiming 95 lives, a number expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
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Climate Preparedness Lacking Across Europe
The summer heatwave and September’s torrential rains showed Europe’s vulnerability to climate change-related weather events, with significant damage to property and transport infrastructure. These incidents caused widespread train cancellations, reducing the competitiveness of intermodal rail freight. According to UIRR, the industry is now calling for the establishment of a European-level crisis and contingency mechanism to minimize the impact of such events, which are expected to occur more frequently in the future.
Progress in revising the Combined Transport Directive was made during the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council, with a promising compromise proposal under discussion. The European Parliament has also appointed its rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs, signaling further deliberations in the coming months.
New State Aid Initiatives to Support Rail Freight
Countries like France, Poland, and Spain have announced new state aid programs to accelerate the development of intermodal rail freight and transshipment terminals. These follow similar initiatives launched earlier in Romania. While UIRR welcomes these measures, it advocates for a harmonized European-level system to ensure maximum efficiency. Upcoming regulatory updates, such as the EU State Aid Guidelines and the Transport Block Exemption Regulation, will play a critical role in this harmonization.
Despite ongoing disruptions, the Combined Transport community continues to expand. New services, terminal improvements, and construction projects align with the goals of the Clean Industrial Deal, further positioning Combined Transport as a key player in Europe’s drive for competitiveness and sustainability.
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Source: UIRR; CDP; Global Trade Alert; Hupac