“Rail freight transports are system-relevant”
Freight trains transport important raw materials but also food and medical goods. Entire industries, such as power stations and the chemical industry, but also sea ports are dependent on rail freight because freight trains can transport very large volumes of cargo. Over long distances a freight train can transport these large volumes with a comparatively small number of personnel. A single freight train replaces 30–50 lorry trips. At national borders, drivers can simply change, allowing the freight to continue its journey unhindered.
Preparation Is Key
Predicting all of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic is impossible. The signatories envisage a broad range of scenarios, from running additional services that need to be taken over from road transports on a large scale, to reducing rail freight services to an absolute minimum.
