European Rail Freight Under Pressure: 16th VPI Symposium Calls for Coordinated Action

Around 250 representatives from politics, industry, and the rail sector gathered in Hamburg on 13 January 2026 for the 16th VPI Symposium. Through expert presentations, the event addressed the key issues currently shaping rail freight transport, ranging from transport policy and European regulation to operational challenges and technological innovation.

In his opening address, VPI Chairman Malte Lawrenz outlined the sector’s current situation. "Rail freight transport is facing major challenges – politically, economically, and in day-to-day operations," Lawrenz said. He stressed that coordinated action is now essential. "As a cross-border mode of transport, solutions must always be developed within a European context. This applies to infrastructure as well as regulation. Joint action is a prerequisite for sustainably strengthening the sector and securing its performance."

A comprehensive overview of the current transport policy landscape was provided by Stefan Jurisch (VDV). He highlighted the structural challenges facing rail freight and outlined the political framework conditions required to position the sector for the future.

UIP President Johann Feindert critically addressed national deviations within European safety and regulatory policy. Referring to the national measures announced by the Swiss Federal Office of Transport (BAV) in 2025 concerning the revision of wheelsets, Feindert emphasised that safety in rail freight transport can only be conceived and implemented at a European level. National unilateral approaches, he warned, jeopardise interoperability and effectiveness and particularly weaken cross-border rail freight operations.

As a key reference point for future action, Feindert pointed to the final report of the Joint Network Secretariat (JNS) task force, published shortly before the end of the year. From the perspective of wagon keepers, the proposed harmonised risk control measures represent the appropriate European framework. The priority, he underlined, is not the introduction of additional rules, but the consistent and uniform application of existing European requirements by all stakeholders.

The Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) was also a major topic at the symposium. Dr Fabian Wartzek (DB AG) and Felix Holtmann (WLE) reported on the deployment of DAC within the DAC4EU project and shared insights from operational use. Further perspectives on the EU pilot trains of the PioDAC project were provided by Dr Armin Günter (DB Cargo) and Heiko Radke (VERS), who pointed out the importance of maintenance monitoring and operational testing. In addition, Jörg Stephan (German Federal Ministry of Transport) presented the current federal funding guidelines supporting DAC implementation. The contributions clearly demonstrated that real-world operational testing is essential for any future large-scale rollout.

Operational realities were also at the centre of Jan Elfenhorst’s (EP Cargo) presentation on the daily challenges faced by railway undertakings during ongoing corridor rehabilitation projects. He illustrated how construction and renewal works significantly affect operations and outlined the consequences for quality, reliability, and economic performance.

The symposium concluded with a focus on the General Contract of Use for Freight Wagons (AVV). Karl-Heinz Fehr (VPI), Prof Dr Rainer Freise, and Christian Kühnast (DB Cargo) examined the AVV as the foundation of cooperation between railway undertakings and wagon keepers. Particular attention was given to recent amendments and to ensuring that the AVV remains a robust basis for reliable and partnership-based cooperation in the future.

On the evening prior to the symposium, around 450 guests attended the traditional New Year’s Reception at the Panoramadeck of Hamburg’s Emporio Tower. Both the symposium and the reception have long been established as fixed fixtures in the industry’s annual calendar.

Source: VPI Press Release