Towards fewer heavy goods vehicles on the country’s roads?
The European Commission has just authorized the modification of a Luxembourg regime which will allow the shift from road freight transport to rail and inland waterways
Truck transport
The European Commission has just authorized the modification of a Luxembourg regime which will allow the shift from road freight transport to rail and inland waterways
In Luxembourg, the circulation of trucks in transit to Germany and France is prohibited on Sundays and public holidays. On weekdays, however, it’s a different story. Some complain about the many heavy goods vehicles transiting through Luxembourg, or from the Bettembourg intermodal terminal, to get to their destination and de facto aggravating traffic jams during rush hour.
The improvement of cross-border mobility being one of the government’s hobbyhorses Luxembourg, work was therefore necessary on this point, especially at a time when the reduction of CO2 emissions is more than necessary. For example, the European Commission has authorized the modification of a Luxembourg scheme aimed at encouraging the shift from road freight transport to rail and inland waterways.
Plan extension
This scheme, initially authorized by the Commission in June 2015, was extended in July 2019 and was due to expire on 31 December next and therefore promote the transition to solutions other than road for the transport of goods, namely rail and inland navigation. The Commission announced on Monday that the scheme will finally be extended until the end of 2027 and a budget of around 104 million euros will be authorized for this transition.
A sum that should be shared by the various transport operators using the Luxembourg rail and/or river network, under certain conditions however. In a press release, the institution said it had “found that the scheme continues to be necessary and proportionate to promote the use of inland waterways and rail transport, without unduly distorting competition in the single market”.
In 2015, during the first request for aid, Luxembourg had justified its request via five major projects. In addition to the reduction of CO2 emissions, the State pleaded in particular for the creation of an interconnection depending on the Rhine river axis to the Bettembourg – Southern Europe rail axis, the improvement of the interoperability of an axis cross-border.
“As well as the increase in the rate of use of existing infrastructure at the Port of Mertert, which risks a drastic drop in steel activity in the region”. But also to favor rail transport on the national territory, the Luxembourg roads being already at saturation”, we could already read in 2015.
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