The Sector Statement Group (SSG) welcomes the publication of the Ministerial “Rail Freight Corridors: The Future of Rail Freight in Europe” Declaration (Berlin Declaration). The Berlin Declaration showcases the necessary clear commitment of the EU Member States to support international rail freight and rightly recognises the environmental advantage of rail freight in view of the European Green Deal. We notably welcome the clear commitment of the Member States to agree on a migration strategy for Digital Automatic Coupling and the recognition of the importance of further digitalisation of infrastructure networks, capacity management and allocation.
The SSG also wishes to present their “SSG Follow-up” to outline the developments, improvements and challenges of each identified priority action, accompanying the Berlin Declaration. The integrated efforts of the sector set in motion a process of tangible improvement for European rail freight transport. There has been good progress in the SSG Priorities during the past years, but there is still room for improvement and closer cooperation, also with Member States and the EU institutions. International rail freight transport is the future of the European Green Deal and the rail sector is committed in enhancing the competitiveness of international rail freight transport business, and improving the quality, reliability and efficiency of transporting goods across Europe, in light of the 2021 European Year of Rail.
The Follow-up report of the Sector Statement Group is available here.
About the Sector Statement Group
The Sector Statement Group consists of the rail sector associations and their members (representing the interests of the shippers, freight forwarders, rail freight operators (RUs), intermodal operators, intermodal terminals, infrastructure managers (IMs), allocation bodies, rail freight corridors (RFCs), rail equipment suppliers and Rail Freight Corridors. In 2016, the railway sector adopted a sector statement with commitment to “boost international rail freight”.
