CEF unlocks 1 billion for alternative fuels, rail doesn’t get a penny
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) unlocked one billion euros through its Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) to boost the deployment of alternative fuel supply infrastructure across the European Union. However, rail seems to be the only transport sector currently excluded from this project.
The initiative is aimed at “road, maritime, inland waterway and air transport along the trans-European transport network (TEN-T)”, with no mention of rail. It is open for projects regarding “support to Megawatt recharging stations for Heavy Duty Vehicles, support to electricity and hydrogen supply at airports and support to electricity supply and ammonia and methanol bunkering facilities in ports”. The EU Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean underlined that countries in Southern and Eastern Europe are strongly encouraged to make of the funds.
Alternative fuels in the rail sector
The AFIF scheme was extended to the rail sector in May 2023, within the Regulation for the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure. Back then, industry players claimed that EU ambitions should aim higher concerning the rail industry. More specifically, no clear goals have been set when it comes to rail, whereas other transport modes can count on clear guidelines. Moreover, if for the other sectors many options are considered (hydrogen, LNG, ammonia), the rail segment seems to agree that battery\electric trains are the way to go.
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As contemporarily stated, here in our forum, potential of Mode, however is great!
By a shift, by outing the devastating, the current traditional, transverse, sleeper standard, energy waisted, will be reduced, etc.!
(Reactive, defensively by noise barriers, simply is covering of a symptom.)
Fact, that railways is a “green” mode, shall not prevent Industry, from own reducing of costs – now imposed others!…
(All other modes upgrade, for added load – and lower costs, etc.)