Germany: Toll for trucks lowered five year in a row

The lowering of the toll for trucks sidelines rail freight. In the current market report Allianz pro Schiene states that the toll for trucks had dropped by almost 16% compared to 2010, while freight train charges are on average 13% higher in the same period. “In the course of a short five year period a gap of 29% has been created between these two infrastructures,” said the executive director of the Pro-Rail Alliance, Dirk Flege in advance of an emergency meeting with members of the Bundestag's Committee on Transport.

Development of HGV toll rates and rail track charges

Average road toll rates and track charges. 2010 = 100%

“While the government in the coalition agreed on a positive accent on the rail freight transport, the truck transport policies move in the opposite direction,” said Flege. “The lower share of transport in the rail freight sector shouldn’t be only blamed on the strikes of the train drivers. The agreed lower toll for trucks contrasts the rail track charges established by law.

The lower tolls and the increased rail track charges are political choices.”

The annual report of Association for Transport Infrastructure Financing mbH (VIFG), which is owned by the Federal Ministry of Transport, shows the consistently declining truck toll rates from 2010 to 2015. "In 2010 the average toll was 17.42 cents per kilometer, in 2011 at 16.86 cents per kilometer, in 2012 at 16.42 cents per kilometer, in 2013 at 16.12 cents per kilometer and in 2014 at 15.90 cents per kilometer," stated the VIFG report. This year the Ministry of Transport works with a decline of 7.6%. “In 2015 the average toll will be around 14.69 cents per kilometer,” summarizes VIGF and acknowledge that the decline in toll revenues could be compensated by an increase in mileage. “That is a crazy way of reasoning,” criticizes the Managing Director of Allianz pro Schiene. “We have to allow more trucks to compensate for the lowered toll. The road transport can unfairly compete with the rail freight with the blessing of the politicians.”

Flege referred to a recent study of rail freight companies, who expect an increase in costs until 2020. The increase in costs by 20% is due to political decisions on energy costs and track charges.

“The presence for the rail freight looks dark, and the future even darker,” said Flege while he recalled the recent project of the Federal Minister for Transport for extra long mega-trucks. Which are currently being tested and approved in 2017. "If the mega-trucks are allowed and with it the road transport will again be cheaper by 30%, then the German politics has finally killed the rail freight," warned the Pro-Rail Alliance's managing director.

The statement by Dirk Flege, Managing Director of Allianz pro Schiene:

Source: www.allianz-pro-schiene.de