European industry associations call for change on railway capacity management

10 January 2025

CLECAT, together with 11 other industry associations, has issued a joint open letter urging the negotiating partners on the European Railway Capacity Management Regulation to adopt an ambitious and international approach. The Regulation is seen as a crucial step toward improving the reliability of rail freight services, strengthening European supply chains, and boosting the broader economy.

This initiative, led by ERFA and supported by key industry players, underscores the high stakes for European logistics sector for the proposed Regulation which aims to transition railway capacity management from a manual, national, and rigid system to one that is digital, international, and flexible - reflecting the realities of modern freight transport, where over 50% of trains cross national borders.

The proposed Regulation issued on 10 July 2023, entered trilogue negotiations in November 2024 where the European Parliament, Council, and Commission seek agreement on a compromise text. While key elements, such as multi-network capacity rights, are broadly supported, critical issues remain outstanding such as the Regulation's binding nature, governance, and effective incentives to ensure capacity is managed efficiently.

CLECAT's Chair of the Rail Freight Logistics Institute, Tomas Arvidsson stated: "For European freight forwarders, reliable and predictable rail freight services are fundamental. This Regulation is an opportunity to make rail freight a true backbone of sustainable and resilient supply chains. Moving to a more flexible and international capacity management system is critical for unlocking the full potential of rail freight, especially for cross-border operations."

CLECAT joins its industry partners in urging policymakers to ensure the Regulation strengthens legal certainty and supports a thriving rail freight market. With the proposed revocation of existing frameworks such as the 'Rail Freight Corridors' Regulation, CLECAT stresses the importance of avoiding unintended setbacks and ensuring the Regulation delivers meaningful improvements for the sector.