European institutions have been pushing for a modal shift to rail freight for the past few years. However, the various segments of the industry in the member states seem to have different priorities, and there are two recent examples highlighting this fragmentation.
The two instances come from Italy and Spain. The case in Italy involves the Italian Freight Forwarding Association (Fedespedi) and the port of La Spezia, in the northwest. The one in Spain concerns the Spanish Shippers’ Association (ACE) and the port of Barcelona, in the northeast.
Forwarders in La Spezia
At the port of La Spezia, Fedespedi is asking for more investments to improve road freight transport. “The port invested significantly in the railways, but (…) if we want to ensure efficiency, we must also invest in this modality”, said the President of Fedespedi Alessandro Laghezza. One of the proposed solutions would be the creation of a new parking area outside the port area for trucks which could be moved to the port at nighttime with a shuttle service.
Shippers in Barcelona
When it comes to Spain, ACE highlighted how a rolling highway between the port of Barcelona and Zaragoza is a necessity. The issue was discussed between ACE and representatives of the port, but there does not seem to be a concrete plan, as this route is not included among the rolling highways project that Spain is developing or considering. According to ACE, however, it would highly improve connectivity between the north and the centre of Spain.
Lack of common mindset
These two cases are small examples of how fragmented the transport industries in Europe seem to be. Despite goals from the EU advocating for a shift to rail freight, things in practice are a little more complicated. The sector comprises many segments, all trying to protect their interests and, sometimes, their very existence. Finding solutions that satisfy all parties across the continent is a difficult task and many questions remain concerning the feasibility of some of the goals set for European transport.