The Future of Transport: Our Vision

The European rail sector calls for the future of sustainable, efficient and customer focused transport in Europe to be based on the following principles:

 

• The transport system must provide customers with the best possible mobility choice. This applies both to passenger and freight transport. Better integration of the different transport modes will improve the overall efficiency of the transport system.
• Concrete and overall emissions reduction targets should be set for the transport sector as whole. These would provide a clear and measurable goal for transport policy. Policy measures should be assessed in the light of their contribution towards this goal.
• Internalisation of external costs is key to reducing emissions from transport and to tackling climate change. The “polluter pays principle” needs to apply to all modes of transport and would level the playing field between modes.
• Increasing national and European investment in rail infrastructure is of primary importance. Investment should be designed to promote decarbonisation and should foster a shift to sustainable modes, in particular from road to rail for freight and from air to high speed rail for passenger transport - with the final objective of creating a highly performing network that meets customers’ needs.
• Liberalisation of the rail sector as part of an overall successful transport policy is one of the key driving forces for improving the quality of services and choice for customers. Liberalisation will make the rail sector more efficient and will improve its ability to compete with other modes
• Independent and strong regulatory bodies in all member states should monitor the market and ensure that all operators are not discriminated against.
• Experience has shown that liberalisation alone, for example when not pursued together with an adequate financing of public service contracts and infrastructure, has not always delivered the expected positive results. The White Paper of 2001 outlines the key elements of a successful transport policy: adequate financing of public service contracts and of infrastructure, fair intermodal conditions and market opening. The proposals made in the White Paper require a coherent and balanced implementation throughout the European Union in order to be successful.
• Innovative and environmentally friendly transport technology solutions must be developed and implemented. For rail this includes new interoperable technologies, such as ERTMS, which should be deployed along the EU’s railway network. Special measures should be taken to overcome the technology gap between Western Europe and CEE countries.
• Transparency of principles and procedures (i.e. track access, charging schemes) should be promoted, as well as international cooperation and coordination of infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, member states and regulatory bodies.