Level Playing Field: Captrain CEO and Polish Deputy Minister Call for Structural Reforms

Why It Matters

Aligning cost structures and infrastructure policies will make rail freight a viable, lower‑emission alternative to road haulage, supporting EU climate goals and unlocking growth for logistics providers.

Key Takeaways

• State‑funded truck parking gives road carriers cost advantage
• Rail faces higher fees for track access, parking, and shunting
• Poland proposes truck road fees and reviving small stations
• Harmonised EU track‑access rules needed for freight competitiveness

Pulse Analysis

The European Union has set ambitious decarbonisation targets that place rail freight at the centre of its logistics strategy. Yet, despite its lower emissions per tonne‑kilometre, rail often lags behind road haulage because the regulatory framework imposes hidden costs on operators. At the ERFA conference in Brussels, Captrain Deutschland chief Henrik Würdemann underscored that truck drivers benefit from publicly funded parking and free‑road usage, while rail companies must shoulder parking, shunting and track‑access fees. This structural disparity erodes rail’s price competitiveness and discourages shippers from switching modes.

Würdemann’s call for harmonised track‑access charges (TAC) resonates with Polish Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Piotr Malepszak, who suggested extending road tolls to heavy‑truck users on high‑capacity corridors. By making trucks pay for the kilometres they travel, the cost gap narrows, creating a more level playing field. Malepszak also highlighted a low‑cost lever: reopening small, under‑used stations closed two decades ago. Restoring these sidings would not require a multibillion‑euro outlay—roughly $2 billion in today’s dollars—but could immediately increase freight train paths and relieve congested passenger services.

If EU member states adopt these reforms, rail freight could capture a larger share of the intra‑European haulage market, translating into higher asset utilisation for operators like Captrain and new revenue streams for infrastructure managers. Investors are likely to view a more predictable cost structure as a catalyst for network upgrades and digitalisation projects, while shippers will benefit from reduced price volatility. The challenge now lies in coordinating national policies, especially on TAC and truck tolls, to avoid a patchwork of regulations that would re‑introduce uncertainty. A concerted effort could accelerate the shift toward greener, more efficient freight transport across the continent.