Preparatory study for an impact assessment for a rail network giving priority to freight
Publication details: Bryssel European Commission. Directorate General Energy and Transport, 2008Description: 188 sSubject(s): Online resources: Abstract: In the past few years, freight transport has been constantly increasing in the European Union, at a yearly average of 2.8% in the 1995-2005 decade. Indeed, thanks to advances in transport technology, costs have considerably decreased, thus allowing higher trade volumes. In addition to this, the recent enlargements of the EU and of its Internal Market have resulted into higher West/East trade volumes. Against such overall increase in freight transport, the share of rail freight transport has been declining, and most of this new transport has taken the road. In 2005, only 10% of freight were transported by rail in EU-25 Member States. Yet, such figures varies widely across the EU: some countries have a higher share of rail transport, while in some other ones rail is insignificant in the national freight transport system.In the past few years, freight transport has been constantly increasing in the European Union, at a yearly average of 2.8% in the 1995-2005 decade. Indeed, thanks to advances in transport technology, costs have considerably decreased, thus allowing higher trade volumes. In addition to this, the recent enlargements of the EU and of its Internal Market have resulted into higher West/East trade volumes. Against such overall increase in freight transport, the share of rail freight transport has been declining, and most of this new transport has taken the road. In 2005, only 10% of freight were transported by rail in EU-25 Member States. Yet, such figures varies widely across the EU: some countries have a higher share of rail transport, while in some other ones rail is insignificant in the national freight transport system.