Rail Freight Forward coalition implements Handbook

In its vision paper “30 by 2030” the Rail Freight Forward coalition (RFF) has committed to adopt and implement a Contingency Management Handbook. This Handbook outlines harmonised international contingency measures whenever major disruptions happen on the European Railway network.

The Handbook describes how railway undertakings should cooperate with each other and with infrastructure managers. It closely aligns with the Contingency Management Handbook of Infrastructure Managers. Furthermore, the Handbook outlines scenarios of resource pooling between Undertakings in order to best manage large incidents, and the regulatory mitigation measures that would be needed to make that possible.

Infrastructure capacity

These measures will allow the rail sector to maximise use of infrastructure capacity during a major international disruption. Such an incident can, both in duration and scale, jeopardise major trade flows and risk undermining customer confidence in rail’s resilience as a transport mode.

The Handbook has been endorsed by BLS Cargo, CFL Cargo, DB Cargo AG, the ERFA Board -representing its 30 members, Fret SNCF, Lineas, RCG and SBB Cargo. All other Undertakings have been invited to join this effort to improve the resilience of European Rail Freight. The first Undertakings will start implementation in 2020