As a medium-sized business owner who relies on combined transport every day, I expect solutions instead of excuses. Rail transport must become reliable again. Combined transport has its back against the wall. It is high time that political commitments are turned into concrete relief measures and investments.

Combined transport has proven its reliability over many years and makes an important contribution to stable, sustainable logistics. Clear political framework conditions are needed to maintain this potential: fair competition, reliable infrastructure and predictable track access charges. Only then can economic efficiency and climate protection be effectively combined in freight transport.

When politicians slow down rail development, they also slow down innovation. Without planning security and reliable funding, start-ups such as RailSync lose ground, and Germany and Europe lose the opportunity for greater digitalisation and increased rail capacity.

Without reliable infrastructure, functioning diversion routes and a pause in cost increases, rail is losing market share. Combined transport is an indispensable element of European security of supply and competitive logistics in port connections, intra-European and transalpine transport. We must save combined transport now.

This initiative clearly shows that the combined transport community is united and cannot be divided. Combined transport is the backbone of the transport system, an independent mode of transport with all its advantages and efficiencies, but also with common challenges. All players in the logistics chain agree that there is no better solution for sustainable resilience and that the framework conditions for competitiveness are crucial, both on the legal side and in terms of infrastructure.

Combined transport is the backbone of Europe’s supply chains - connecting businesses, people, and markets responsibly. We proudly support the Save Combined Transport initiative, because reliable rail infrastructure and fair framework conditions are essential to keeping freight on track, protecting the climate, and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.

Combined transport is at a decisive turning point. It now needs the full support of politicians and infrastructure operators to ensure that the successes achieved in shifting transport to rail are not lost. It is of central importance that rail capacity is maintained even during intensive construction and renovation phases. Only in this way can we stabilise and further advance the modal shift from road to rail in the long term.

Without combined transport, Germany will no longer be able to move steel and metal recycling flows by rail in the long term. The industry moves millions of tonnes per year. Transporting these volumes requires effective coordination between lorries, railways and terminals. Otherwise, transport will revert to road transport – with all the consequences that entails for costs, the climate and infrastructure.