Environment
Noise
Objective
Noise pollution is one of the most widespread public health threats in industrialised countries and the second largest environmental cause of health problems in the EU, impacting the railway sector and rail operations. The EU is taking several actions on noise exposure, one of which is reducing noise emissions from rail freight.
Regulation (EU) 1304/2014 on the Technical Specification for Interoperability related to Rolling stock – Noise (NOI TSI) establishes the framework for noise emitted by rolling stock (locomotives and passenger and freight wagons).
EIM in action
- EIM advocates the importance of speeding-up the process for freight wagons to become quieter, as well as the importance of available, cost-efficient noise reduction solutions in order to prevent a modal shift from rail to other transport modes;
- EIM contributes to the dissemination of the information and activities related to the quieter routes, which are published in the RINF.
EIM actions in 2022
- EIM’s NOI WG has been sharing experiences in relation to the list of quieter routes;
- EIM has contributed to the technical opinion on the reporting of the information for quieter routes. The EC followed the EIM recommendations (the information will have to be provided exclusively through RINF and no longer with the Noise template).
- EIM’s Nordic IM members continued working with the task force on the assessment of the composite brake blocks towards an exemption to be taken based on the composite brake blocks (CBBs) performance in the Nordic countries.
Outlook 2023
- EIM’s NOI WG experts will follow all activity around the (application of the) TSI Noise.
Application Guide
Substances
Objective
Rail Infrastructure Managers (IMs) deploy the following substances to maintain their rail network:
- Glyphosate: a herbicide used in agriculture to control the growth of weed along railway tracks.
- Creosote: a wood preservative that protects wooden railway sleepers from the natural elements and increases their lifespan by 10 to 30 years.
One of the core regulatory acts regarding glyphosate and creosote is Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. This Regulation regulates the renewal of approvals for both those substances.
With its Implementing Regulation 2022/1950 adopted in October 2022, the EC granted the possibility to continue using creosote for railway sleepers because of a lack of viable alternatives. The EC adopted the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2364 to extend the permitted period of use of glyphosate until 15th December 2023.
On 22nd June 2022, the European Commission tabled a proposal for a regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides (SUR) aiming at reducing the use and risk of pesticides as well as the use of the more hazardous pesticides. It would repeal and replace Directive 2009/128/EC currently in force.
The members of EIM are actively engaged in finding alternatives to creosote and glyphosate to minimise their use as quickly as possible, without jeopardizing the safety of the railway system.
EIM in action
- EIM advocates the extensive research of alternative products to glyphosate by participating in various research platforms.
- EIM continues to monitor the evolution related to substances on EU and national level.
EIM actions in 2022
- EIM and CER continued to contribute to the ‘AT-WOOD’ project of UIC together with other research bodies to exchange best practices on alternative products and methods for creosote;
- In September 2022, EIM and CER published a joint statement as a reply to the EC consultation on the proposal for a Regulation on the “Sustainable Use of Plant Products”.
Outlook 2023
- The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will continue to operate the process for permitting the use of creosote until October 2022.
- EIM will continue to participate in the UIC AT-WOOD project
- EIM will continue to follow all relevant EU initiatives regarding substances used by the rail sector.
Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 placing of plant protection products on the market
Implementing Regulation 2022/2364 on the extension of the approval period of glyphosate
Implementing Regulation 2022/1950 renewing the approval of creosote as an active substance for use in biocidal products of product-type 8
Directive 2009/128/EC on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides
Low-emission and Electro-Mobility
Objective
With the publication in March 2020 of its proposal of the “European Climate Law” the European Commission envisages a legally binding target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal. The Member States will be bound to take the necessary measures at EU and national level to meet this target in all sectors concerned, including transport.
Within this framework, EIM participates in the ‘’Platform for Electro-Mobility’’ to promote rail as one of the best electromobility solutions for citizens to achieve the climate ambition of zero emissions. The Platform has gained importance due to the revision of the EU Directive on “Alternative Fuels Infrastructure” (AFID) into a Regulation (AFIR).
EIM, also via the Platform, closely monitors the ongoing negotiations between the EU Institutions on AFIR and all related topics. EIM has also been following the negotiations between the EU Parliament, the Council and the EU Commission regarding the revision of the European Trading System (ETS II).
EIM in action
- EIM is a full member of the ’Platform for Electro-Mobility’, a multimodal, cross-sectorial forum of industry stakeholders with the goal of fostering e-mobility in European transport;
- EIM systematically advocates the recognition of the strategic importance of electric rail services for passengers and freight.
EIM actions in 2022
- EIM proposed a number of amendments to multiple position papers of the Platform for Electro-Mobility.
Outlook 2023
- EIM will follow the evolution of the EU negotiations on AFIR, especially regarding future requirements for the deployment of hydrogen and battery on rail infrastructure.
- EIM will continue to actively participate in the Platform for Electromobility.
- EIM will continue to contribute to topics such as energy efficiency and energy transition.
Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future
Directive 2014/94/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure
EU Green Deal
EIM in action
The European Green Deal (EGD) was presented in December 2019 by the EU Commission. The EGD aims at boosting the competitiveness of European industry, establishing a circular economy, eliminating pollution, and safeguarding biodiversity. The overall objective is to make the European Union carbon-neutral by 2050 across all sectors, including transport.
The EU Green Deal, notably the part on sustainable transport, has a major impact on the upcoming revision or development of EU legislation relevant for rail infrastructure managers, such as TEN-T, Rail Freight Corridors, funding and financing, timetabling, national rules, bottlenecks, etc.
EIM in action
- EIM welcomes the political ambitions of the EGD and the related sustainable and smart mobility strategy.
- EIM advocates a better level playing field with other transport modes and to increase the CEF funding for rail.
EIM actions in 2022
- EIM closely followed the legislative developments on the EU Green Deal.
- EIM consulted the EGD Working Group set up in 2021 on specific files (e.g. Sustainable use of plant protection products) and exchanged with the experts.
- EIM coordinated its action with other organisations (CER, UNIFE, ALLRAIL).
- EIM contributed to several position papers of the Electromobility Platform related to the green transition in the transport sector.
- EIM actively contributed to the BISON project and the UIC AT-WOOD project.
Outlook 2023
- EIM will continue to follow all relevant EU initiatives under the EGD and duly inform its members.
- EIM will closely monitor the negotiations between the EU institutions on the different files.
- EIM will consult its members and the EGD working group when relevant.
- EIM will continue the collaboration with the sector to promote rail as the greenest mode of transport.