Market & framework
What Europe requires
The TEN-T Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 sets out what the European transport network must be able to do by 2030, 2040 and 2050. For freight, rail matters most.
| Deadline | Network | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec 2030 | core network | completed (Art. 6) |
| 31 Dec 2040 | extended core network | 740 m freight trains without special permission; on double track at least one path per two hours and direction, 24 per day (Art. 16(2)) |
| 31 Dec 2050 | comprehensive network | fully electrified, 22.5 t axle load, 740 m trains (Art. 15(2)) |
About half of the tonne-kilometres in European rail freight are intermodal, and the share is rising. The EU aims to double rail's share of freight transport (recital 48).
Operating targets at the border
- 25 minutes: maximum average dwell time of cross-border freight trains per border section (Art. 19(1)).
- 75%: of cross-border freight trains are to arrive on time or with no more than 30 minutes' infrastructure-related delay.
- 27 cm: lines are to carry 4 m high semi-trailers loaded at least 27 cm above the top of rail; 33 cm is to be encouraged (recital 48).
- 19 Jul 2027: by then Member States analyse the market and needs of their multimodal freight terminals (Art. 36(3)).
What Germany is funding
The Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality finances additional investment of up to €500 billion. Transport infrastructure is one of nine federal areas. €100 billion goes to the Länder, €100 billion to the Climate and Transformation Fund. Approvals must be granted by end-2036.
In 2026 €22.0 bn of it goes to transport, of which €16.3 bn to maintaining rail lines. According to the Federal Network Agency, about 40% of rail freight transport performance is combined transport.
What that means: both statutes speak of investment in infrastructure. They do not mention loading units or wagons. One exception sits in the economic plan: the €2.45 bn ERTMS line also covers “rolling stock (trains, wagons)”.