Austria’s industry welcomes reorganised funding for connecting rails
New funding for connecting railways strengthens the railway system and could be a signal to reanimate existing connecting railways
At least 65 per cent (in 2012: 59.6 million tonnes) of rail cargo transport in Austria are handled via connecting railways. Hence the recently completed reorganisation of the funding for connecting railways is a major step to strengthen the domestic railway system, emphasises Thomas Scheiber, Chairman of the professional association of the railways in the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.
„The refocused funding program contributes significantly to stabilise and expand the cargo volume on the rail. We are pleased that important demands of the industry have been realised in the new connecting railways funding in the negotiations with the Ministry of Transport,“ he adds.
The association for connecting railway companies (VABU) has positively evaluated the latest development: „Redesigning the funding for connecting railways is an important sign for the domestic rail system“, VABU President Markus Schinko emphasised at the presentation of the funding at the connecting railways conference in Salzburg.
On the one hand is the departure from the system of temporary tenders which was not accepted by the company is a significant innovation. On the other hand, the funding was also expanded to cover the rail sidings alongside the funding of new and expansion investments on inventory, which is an important signal for the revitalization of existing connecting railways.
To achieve the target of 40 per cent modal split for the railway, further steps will be necessary, says the industry spokesman. „We need the same conditions in terms of infrastructure financing and maintenance for all railway enterprises. And the implementation of European standards should be based on the domestic structures,“ says Thomas Scheiber. Regarding the 4th EU railway package integration for small and medium-sized railway companies must remain possible, to avoid the establishment of parallel and expensive structures for operation and infrastructure. What was also a burden for companies operating purely nationally are too high technical harmonisation requirements that need to be avoided.
Quelle: Österreichische Verkehrszeitung
Portal: www.logistik-express.com
