News / Germany's state subsidy cut 'won't push rail freight onto the roads'

Concerns of a major modal shift from rail to road after the German government reduced its subsidies, and operators announced new surcharges to meet the shortfall, may be overplayed.

State support for the Trassenförderung, the track access charges (TAC), was rolled back in mid-January, but despite being less aggressive than expected, Maersk implemented a €9 ($9.75) per teu “rail infrastructure surcharge” on Rotterdam rail services on 1 April.

This had led to uproar from rail operators ...