2021 solemnly constitutes the European Year of Rail. Following 2020 and all its upheavals, the conditions seem optimal to use the coming year as a starting point to implement changes and realise plans. Subsequently, on RailFreight.com, we asked some of the most important European rail freight factors to provide us with their wishes for the developments they want to see in 2021.

The momentum is right, and the European rail freight sector welcomed the initiative for the year of rail with warmth. Nevertheless, there are specific focal points to address and points for caution and immediate measures. In this wishlist for 2021, companies and associations share their viewpoints and expectations on the topic.

DB Cargo Eurasia GmbH

“For 2021 we, first of all, wish health to all rail employees. One thing that we would certainly want to take place is the first transportation of dangerous goods to China that is not yet allowed”.

UTLC ERA

“Let’s hope that we will meet with each other in person more frequently and we will have some more good rail together!”

ERFA

“We wish that the strategic importance of rail freight is successfully communicated and understood”.

Rail Cargo Group

“Let’s become the sustainable logistical backbone of the European economy”.

Metrans

“In 2021 we wish for real cooperation between EU infrastructures and the EU to implement new regulations in order to simplify the processes and border-crossings”.

Community of European Railways (CER)

“We wish for more automation in all processes and for the recently issued EU strategy to become a reality the soonest. Additionally, it would be ideal to see the end of the pandemic, because it’s bizarre to talk about the year of rail while being unable to use trains”.

PCC Intermodal

“Equal and fair access in rail, with smart and facilitated rate conditions for intermodal transport. Moreover, we wish for the first moves towards a common European rail system”.

Kombiverkehr

“We wish for equal opportunities between rail and road transportation, for an ecological and economical transport turnaround”.

KLG

“Hopefully KLG will continue to be innovative by further developing the 45ft reefers to attract and even larger audience. Moreover, we wish to build on our Sinotrans pillars and roll out the rail product and all our other logistics services across all of Europe”.

RailGood

“Make rail freight transport great again, by making it as competitive as truck transportation on mid and long distances, by properly facilitating it and letting the market do its work. Make it happen!”

Global Ocean Link (GOL)

“Be bigger, be greener, go by Rail”!

Shift2Rail

“ Let’s build a new generation of GLOBAL, FASTER, SAFER and MORE RELIABLE railways together”.

CFL Multimodal

“We wish that the Year of Rail will lead to a real paradigm shift towards more sustainable transports in Europe”.

Happy 2021

On its behalf, RailFreight.com wishes to the whole rail freight sector a healthy and productive year! Let’s all work together to unfold the industry’s full potential and deliver the best version of its services. If 2020 with all its difficulties was successful, 2021 could become the year of rail in practice!