A manifesto with good intentions

The European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) has published its manifesto, which covers key issues that it believes should be addressed by European institutions and member states, trans-info reports.
The document defines a number of policy goals to focus on, including infrastructure repair, the creation of a Single European Railway Area, and increasing the competitiveness of rail freight transportation.
The first issue highlighted in the manifesto is the urgent need to modernize and complete the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
ERFA argues that this project is key to improving rail infrastructure across the continent. In addition to the completion of TEN-T, it is equally important to optimize the temporary capacity constraints that result from infrastructure works to minimize their impact on rail freight traffic.
Another key area of concern is the current track access fee regime. The current system is outdated and should be reformed to support the transition from road to rail transport, which is important for reducing emissions and promoting sustainable development.
In addition, ERFA emphasizes the importance of harmonized and simplified test specifications, as the current complexity is hindering progress. One of the most pressing issues is the cost of implementing ERTMS technology, especially for on-board devices that do not bring immediate benefit to operators.
As a result, ERFA is calling for these costs to be fully funded by public funds.