THE COMMUNITY of European Railways and Infrastructure Companies (CER) has welcomed the “strong recognition of rail freight in port policy, planning and investment decisions” in the European Commission’s (EC) EU Ports Strategy published on March 4.

The strategy aims to drive competitiveness, sustainability, decarbonisation, security and resilience within the European Union’s (EU) wider waterborne sector. While primarily focusing on ports, shipping and maritime, it notes the environmental and operational advantages of rail freight and the importance of improving connectivity with rail infrastructure at European ports.

Despite these advantages, rail’s modal share varies at major European ports, from more than 50% at Bremerhaven and 30% at Hamburg, to less than 10% at Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges and Valencia.

The strategy commits the EC in 2026 to strengthening rules on access to rail service facilities at EU ports. The European Coordinator for the European Maritime Space (EMS), Gesine Meissner, will also prioritise integration of rail and inland waterway transport with ports in her upcoming EMS work plan. The strategy likewise encourages member states to prioritise projects to improve the interoperability and capacity of rail connections to ports.

“These elements reflect many of CER’s long-standing recommendations and provide a strong basis for improving the rail-port interface across Europe,” CER says. “The focus must now shift from strategic recognition to effective implementation at EU and national level.”

EU funding

CER adds that given the strategy’s recommendations, national investment plans and funding decisions should prioritise rail connectivity and interoperability between ports and the rail system. Such projects should also be supported with EU funding, specifically the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 and the next Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), for which CER and other European rail lobby groups are calling for a budget of at least €100bn.

The association also suggests several areas that it feels the proposed investments should target:

  • investing in port-rail infrastructure, including 740m loading tracks, IT-supported track management, and direct ship-to-rail transfer facilities
  • integrating rail planning into port expansion projects to avoid future bottlenecks
  • accelerating the implementation of the European Transport Corridors and improving hinterland rail links
  • expanding intermodal terminal infrastructure along key corridors
  • ensuring effective implementation of the EC’s military mobility package, including upgrading dual-use infrastructure in ports
  • reducing port-related rail costs through improved access to service facilities, fair competition and targeted operating subsidy, and
  • advancing the revision of the Combined Transport Directive to increase modal shift and lower the cost of sustainable intermodal operations.

“The strategy should serve as a catalyst for raising rail’s modal share at European ports towards at least 30% in the coming years,” says CER executive director, Alberto Mazzola. “CER will continue its work with its members, as well as with port and rail stakeholders, to further strengthen the rail-port interface.”