Rhine-Alpine News
23.10.2024
France to connect all logistics sites to railways
Symbolic picture by Erwin van der Linden
A French Parliamentary bill aims to develop rail freight by requiring all logistics sites in France to be rail-connected. Companies failing to comply would be subject to an environmental transition tax. The bill aims to restore equity and fair competition with road transport, as highlighted in a French Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry report. The bill stipulates that any project for the construction of a warehouse or logistics hub must entail a connection to the rail network. Existing warehouses and platforms that are not rail-connected would undergo feasibility studies within a year of the bill being passed. Firms operating non-compliant logistics facilities would pay a ‘green’ levy on profits subject to corporation tax. The bill is expected to face opposition from logistics operators whose distribution networks heavily rely on road haulage. However, political support for rail freight development in France is evident.
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NPRC Members invest over € 5.5 million in fleet sustainability
Symbolic picture made with Bing Image Creator
The inland shipping cooperative, NPRC, has seen a record number of members attend its general assembly, with approximately 150 companies working together. The association’s strategy in digitisation and sustainability was discussed, with members investing over €5.5 million in fleet sustainability in the past 12 months. The 2023-2024 financial year ended with a healthy result, with a 25% decrease in turnover. The cooperative’s CFO, Arno Treur, explains that the market cooled down in 2023-24, impacting the volume of transported goods. The cooperative has also taken an ambitious step by investing in environmentally friendly fleets, with each member receiving a one-off voucher for €20,000. The cooperative has seen an average reduction of 7% in CO2 emissions by about a third of its members last year. The cooperative is using this momentum to reduce emissions in logistics in the coming year. The cooperative has also appointed new members to the Supervisory Board and Members’ Council, with Joyce Bliek and Arvid Manneke re-elected for a second term.
Source(in German):
German Mobility Award 2024
Symbolic Picture by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
The German Mobility Award 2024 winners were announced at the Federal Government’s Digital Summit in Frankfurt am Main. The award focuses on innovative projects that are shaping the future of mobility, including solutions for blind and visually impaired people, networked mobility systems, and autonomous and emission-free transport options on water. The SmartAIs project won in the Digital Transformation & AI category for its obstacle detection app, while NeMo.bil won in the New Mobility Solutions category for its autonomous and digitally networked vehicles for public on-demand transport. UNLEASH FUTURE BOATS won in the Design category for its autonomous, emission-free boats, and SMILE24 for its comprehensive local transport service in rural areas. The Audience Award was decided by live voting from mobility enthusiasts.
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