VPI: Rail freight transport needs further modernisation of the infrastructure

With over 450 guests, the traditional New Year's reception of the Association of Freight Car Owners in Germany e.V. (VPI) set a new attendance record. At the 14th VPI Symposium on the following January 9th, the modernisation of the infrastructure and combined transport were the focus of the debates.
The long-established Rail Transport Parliamentary Group (PG Schiene) of the German Bundestag is starting the new legislative period with new staff. On April 7, as their chairman the parliamentarians unanimously elected the chairman of the transport committee, Udo Schiefner, MdB, from the SPD parliamentary group.
Between October and December 2021, the automotive supplier Webasto tested the delivery and shipping of components and goods by rail at its Neubrandenburg site. The evaluation of the pilot project is now available: The use of freight trains instead of trucks will reduce carbon dioxide emissions during transport to and from the Neubrandenburg site by at least three quarters without additional costs.
HHLA achieved sales of EUR 1.46 billion in 2021, 12.7 percent more than in 2020. This was reported by Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA) at its balance sheet conference on March 24, 2022. HHLA CEO Angela Titzrath described Russia's attack on Ukraine on February 24 as a "bitter day for all peace-loving people worldwide". On that day, the port of Odessa, the most important in Ukraine, also had to close. HHLA has operated a container terminal there since 2001.
This Wednesday, March 16, 2022, Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) intends to approve the federal government's draft budget for the current 2022 financial year. Due to the Ukraine war, it is to be expected that there will be a supplementary budget at a later date. Despite all the problems with Corona and the consequences of the war, the network of European railways NEE appeals: The financing of rail projects must continue right now!
Born in Dresden and with a degree in business administration, Torsten Herbst has been a member of the German Bundestag since 2017. He is parliamentary manager of the FDP parliamentary group, member of the Federal Executive Committee of the FDP, State Treasurer of the FDP Saxony, deputy member for the FDP in the Bundestag Transport Committee. CARGO MANAGER Editor-in-Chief Hermann Schmidtendorf interviewed the proven liberal railway and transport expert.
The promise by Hyundai and partners that a vehicle fleet of 1,600 Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell 36-ton trailers should be built in Switzerland by 2025 is currently under pressure. Reports circulated in the specialist media that the project had been or would be stopped. The CEO of the partner company H2 Energy Rolf Huber opposed this on November 1st. But adjustments to the roll-out model seem inevitable.
"The charging infrastructure master plan II creates the basis for a comprehensive, needs-based and user-friendly car and truck charging infrastructure," emphasised the German Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport, Dr. Volker Wissing. And the Federal Minister for Economics and Climate Protection Dr. Robert Habeck explained: “The charging infrastructure must be integrated into the power grid in a system-friendly way. An interministerial steering group will coordinate further work.”

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