EU Survey: Perception on freight transport in Europe

The EU survey Public perception on freight transport in Europe reveals strong public support for rail freight as the backbone of European logistics.

Of the 5,400 citizens surveyed across all 27 Member States, fewer than half knew that most goods (78% of inland transport) move by road, while nearly one-third believe that the transport of goods is balanced between road and rail.

Still, 97% agree improvements are needed, notably to cut pollution (32%), ease road congestion (28%), and enhance safety (20%). Most want to see stronger cooperation between long-haul rail and last-mile road transport, along with increased railway capacity for sustainable freight.

Interestingly, as the EU considers making it possible for longer and heavier trucks to cross borders with the ongoing reform of the Vehicles Weights and Dimensions Directive, just 2% of respondents favour this solution.

Commissioned by the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and carried out by Polling Europe, this new European perception survey comes at a key moment as the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive could hinder rail freight, the most sustainable mode of transport.

Download below the survey report.