TRIESTE – European rail freight is going through a critical phase that threatens its competitiveness and could once again shift flows back to road transport. The warning comes from Giuseppe Rizzi, Director General of Fermerci, following meetings with MEPs Carlo Fidanza and Flavio Tosi.
According to Rizzi, the situation is complicated by capacity constraints, maintenance backlogs, widespread construction sites and poor cross-border coordination. Another challenge arises from new access requirements on the Swiss rail network, set to block much of today’s freight car fleet. In the Alpine corridors, disruptions have already had dramatic effects: the 2023 Modane landslide and the Gotthard accident showed just how fragile the balance of these connections is.
The outlook is no brighter. In Germany, between 2027 and 2030, complete closures of up to five months are planned for 40 railway lines. This is a particular concern for Italy, which sees Germany as its main logistics and rail partner. For this reason, Fermerci fears a worsening of the crisis, even though in Italy the interruptions linked to PNRR works may end by 2026.
Italy’s infrastructure manager (Rfi), Rizzi recalled, is tackling this complex phase through coordination tools and dialogue with companies, but the same is not happening in other Member States. Hence the association’s appeal: an integrated approach is needed, with common rules, adequate funding and strong international governance to prevent a loss of capacity and competitiveness. Fermerci also reiterated the need for a balanced revision of the Combined Transport Directive, taking into account differences in competitiveness between countries, and for regulation of the Weights and Dimensions Directive that does not favor road transport at the expense of rail.
