Objective

Noise pollution is one of the most widespread public health threats in industrialised countries and the second largest environmental cause of health problems in the EU, impacting the railway sector and rail operations. The EU is taking several actions on noise exposure, one of which is reducing noise emissions from rail freight. 

Regulation (EU) 1304/2014 on the Technical Specification for Interoperability related to Rolling stock – Noise (NOI TSI) establishes the framework for noise emitted by rolling stock (locomotives and passenger and freight wagons).

EIM in action

• EIM advocates the importance of speeding-up the process for freight wagons to become quieter, as well as the importance of available, cost-efficient noise reduction solutions in order to prevent a modal shift from rail to other transport modes;
• EIM contributes to the dissemination of the information and activities related to the quieter routes, which are published in the RINF.

Objective

Within the context of the European Green Deal, the European Commission (EC) launched several initiatives to regulate the use of certain substances, such as Glyphosate, F-gases or PFAS.

Several of these substances are used by Rail Infrastructure Managers (IMs) in their activities: Glyphosate for track maintenance, Fluorinated gases (F-gases) in switch gears and Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various other applications.

The EC adopted the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2364 to extend the permitted period of use of glyphosate until 15th December 2023. On 28th November 2023, the EC adopted its Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2660 renewing the approval of glyphosate for a period of 10 years (i.e. until 15 December 2033).

On 5th April 2022, the EC published its proposal to revise the Regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases with the aim to phase out these man-made gases. On 5th October 2023, the co-legislators (European Parliament and Council of the EU) reached a provisional agreement. The agreement is expected to be confirmed by the two bodies in Q1 2024 and the final text should enter into force shortly after. 

In February 2023, the EU Chemical Agency (ECHA) published a proposal to restrict the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by 2026 or 2027, although it allows some (use-specific and time-limited) derogations. The ultimate aim is to end the use of PFAs by 2039. ECHA launched a public consultation on its proposal to collect additional information and will spend a good part of 2024 examining the results before delivering its final opinion to the EC. 

The members of EIM are actively engaged in finding alternatives to these substances and minimising their use as quickly as possible, without jeopardising the safety of the railway system.

EIM in action

• EIM advocates extensive research into alternative products to glyphosate by participating in various research platforms.
• EIM continues to monitor the evolution related to substances on EU and national level.
• EIM continues to flag any relevant issues to its WG “EGD”.

Objective

With the publication in March 2020 of its proposal of the “European Climate Law” the European Commission (EC) envisages a legally binding target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal. 

Member States will be bound to take the necessary measures to meet this target in all sectors concerned, including transport. 

Within this framework, EIM participates in the ‘’Platform for Electro-Mobility’’ to promote rail as one of the best electromobility solutions for citizens to achieve the climate ambition of zero emissions. The Platform has gained importance due to the revision of the EU Directive on “Alternative Fuels Infrastructure” (AFID) into a Regulation (AFIR). The AFIR entered into force on 12th October 2023.

EIM closely monitored the negotiation on EU level of AFIR and all related topics. EIM also followed he negotiations between the EU Parliament, the Council and the EU Commission regarding the revision of the European Trading System (ETS II).

EIM in action

• EIM is a full member of the ’Platform for Electro-Mobility’, a multimodal, cross-sectorial forum of industry stakeholders with the goal of fostering e-mobility in European transport.
• EIM systematically advocates the recognition of the strategic importance of electric rail services for passengers and freight.

Objective

The European Green Deal (EGD) was presented in December 2019 by the EU Commission. The EGD aims at boosting the competitiveness of European industry, establishing a circular economy, eliminating pollution, and safeguarding biodiversity. The overall objective is to make the European Union carbon-neutral by 2050 across all sectors, including transport.

The EU Green Deal, notably the part on sustainable transport, has a major impact on the upcoming revision or development of EU legislation relevant for rail infrastructure managers, such as TEN-T, Rail Freight Corridors, funding and financing, rail capacity management, national rules, bottlenecks, etc.

EIM in action

• EIM welcomes the political objectives of the EGD and the related sustainable and smart mobility strategy.
• EIM advocates a better level playing field with other transport modes and to increase the CEF funding for rail. 
• EIM updates the members on the possible impact of each initiative.