Rhine-Alpine News
06.11.2024
European associations discuss Combined Transport Directive of the Greening Freight Package
Symbolic picture generated with AI
The European Union’s Greening Freight Package is a significant initiative, but the Combined Transport Directive is under scrutiny.
The Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies (CER) urges Member States to maintain an ambitious approach, while rail-road association UIRR highlights the Directive’s implementation as a high priority for the next five years. However, European institutions struggle to find a definition of combined transport that satisfies all parties involved. The Hungarian Presidency’s impasse affects the opportunity to reduce combined transport costs and implement the Electronic Freight Transport Information system (eFTI).
CER also criticizes the Combined Transport Directive and Weights and Dimensions Directive for being in conflict with one another.
Source:
Prix Litra 2024 awards for public transport and mobility research
Symbolic picture by Geralt on Pixabay
The Prix LITRA is an annual competition that honors bachelor’s and master’s theses by students from Swiss universities and universities of applied sciences who have dedicated their thesis to public transport and the topic of mobility. The ceremony took place on September 18, 2024, at the LITRA General Assembly in Bern. The head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) addressed the invited guests in a short speech, emphasizing the importance of public transport for Switzerland. Federal Councillor Rösti also addressed compensation for regional passenger transport and the further development of the performance-related heavy vehicle charge (HVC). Federal Councillor Albert Rösti presented the prize to the winners, who were also welcomed by National Councillor and LITRA President Martin Candinas and Deborah Dudle.
Zachary Hansen’s master’s thesis at EPFL explored the potential of individual habits in mobility behavior to promote modal shift. Livio Andina’s bachelor’s thesis at ZHAW investigated the use of digital tools to bundle maintenance work on existing railway infrastructure for future-oriented maintenance. Matthias García’s bachelor’s thesis at ETH investigated the time-saving potential of optimizing timetables across Europe for long-distance journeys within Europe, which could significantly speed up rail journeys in Europe without expensive infrastructure investments.
The bachelor’s and master’s thesis can be downloaded in English on the source website linked below.
Source(in German):
CCNR to change risk classifications for sections of the Rhine
Symbolic picture by Joshua Kettle on Unsplash
The CCNR is reducing the number of sections of the Rhine with particular risks, with a total length of around 520 km. The final decision will be made at the plenary assembly of the Rhine riparian states on 5 December, with 1 July 2025 proposed as the entry into force date.
The waterways are now well buoyed and can be navigated with navigational aids like Inland ECDIS or radar. Only two risk sections will be designated in the future: the Upper Rhine and Middle Rhine. If adopted, boatmasters will need special authorization for fewer sections than before.
Source(in German):