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Action needed to keep the trains on time, says RFG

[ March 4, 2019   //   ]

There is a risk of severe disruption to international freight services in the event of a no-deal Brexit and a lack of agreement on basic rail connectivity through the Channel Tunnel, warns the Rail Freight Group (RFG).
While it welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for contingency measures, at present the measures focus exclusively on the validity of safety licenses for cross-border rail infrastructure managers. In order to keep freight moving through the Channel Tunnel, railway undertakings also require valid safety certificates as do train drivers, RFG warns.
The RFG is urging the Commission to give railway undertakings a transitional period of 12 months to allow sufficient and putting it on a par with road and air transport.
RFG director general, Maggie Simpson, said: “Although we hope that the UK Government and the EU will avoid a no-deal exit, we must have the necessary provisions in place to ensure that vital rail freight trains can continue to operate. We welcome the move from the Commission to start establishing this framework, but this must be concluded as a matter of urgency and include all the necessary provisions to keep trains moving.”

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