Less freight traffic on rails – salzburg.ORF.at
Fewer and fewer goods are transported by rail: In 2010, the rail share in land freight transport was still 33 percent, so it has fallen to 28 percent within ten years – a fatal development in view of the specifications for the general climate goals.
Within the next eight years, i.e. by 2030, freight traffic will increase by 30 percent, according to forecasts by economic researchers. Most of these goods will then probably be transported by truck, because rail transport will continue to be a stepchild. According to the Salzburg Transport Provincial Councilor Stefan Schnöll, it is a difficult and tough fight to make the shift to rail more attractive.
“Do not approve any commercial area without a railway siding”
On the one hand, it is about pushing the construction of sidings. This is already happening in Salzburg through a siding subsidy for companies. On the other hand, no commercial area without a siding should be dedicated in the future, says Schnöll: “Our problem is definitely the adjacent space. In Upper Austria we repeatedly have cases where commercial areas are dedicated that are far from the railroad. You are inevitably dependent on the truck.”
“Federal railways must be more flexible”
Salzburg companies generally demand more flexibility in terms of rail logistics, for example from the leading provider ÖBB. For example, the cellulose producer AustroCel in Hallein (Tennengau) – a Salzburg model company in terms of rail freight transport – works together with a private railway company, precisely because the offer there is more specific, according to Christian Spark, logistics manager at AustroCel.
ÖBB shows goodwill
At ÖBB, they argue with the largest investment offensive in history. By 2040, they want to double the services in freight transport. This should succeed with the help of a digitization offensive and modern equipment, according to Bernd Winter, Rail Cargo spokesman at ÖBB.