Chambers of Commerce Demand Separation of Rail Traffic

The economic centers along the transport corridors Rhine-Alps, Scandinavia-Mediterranean, and Rhine-Danube are facing transport challenges. To ensure that these three important transport axes remain pivotal for the supply and accessibility of the continent, the Union of European Chambers of Commerce for Transport Issues (UECC) is calling for the separation of rail traffic on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. The resolution was adopted at today’s general assembly in Basel.

(Basel) Whether Basel, Mannheim, or Vienna – the economic centers along the transport corridors Rhine-Alps, Scandinavia-Mediterranean, and Rhine-Danube are facing significant transport challenges. Intra-European trade is increasing, the population is growing, and the demand for mobility is rising.

Separate Tracks for Passenger and Freight Transport

To ensure that the three transport axes remain pivotal for the supply and accessibility of our continent, rail traffic must be separated – this is the demand of the Union of European Chambers of Commerce for Transport Issues (UECC) on the occasion of its 75th anniversary with a resolution. “The transport corridors Rhine-Alps, Scandinavia-Mediterranean, and Rhine-Danube are of outstanding importance for the economy of our member countries. Therefore, we must ensure that different modes of transport can develop freely to enable maximum efficiency,” emphasizes Davor Sertic, President of UECC.

In many economic hotspots along the corridors, freight, passenger, and regional and long-distance transport share the same tracks. This mixed traffic leads to lower frequencies and delays, even resulting in train cancellations, and requires a lot of patience from all those affected – especially companies and commuters, explains Martin Dätwyler, Director of the Chamber of Commerce of both Basels: “To ensure that our economic regions remain well accessible, traffic must be separated whenever possible.”

Resolution Sent on Its Way

The resolution was adopted by members from Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Luxembourg at their general assembly today at the Basel Harbor Museum – Switzerland’s transport hub. The two-day meeting was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of both Basels. Prior to this, the delegation attended the railway congress Bahn24, where the separation of rail traffic at the Basel railway junction was a topic of discussion.

Symbolically via Message in a Bottle

To ensure that the demands of the UECC are heard, the resolution will be sent to relevant European and national decision-makers. Additionally, the delegation sent the resolution on its way as a message in a bottle during a concluding Rhine boat trip. This will be symbolically retrieved at a transport congress of the UECC in Duisburg in early October, another item on the UECC anniversary calendar.

Here is the resolution

Photo: © UECC/Chamber of Commerce of both Basels / Caption (l.r.): For the 75th anniversary, Martin Dätwyler, Director of the Chamber of Commerce of both Basels, Silvan Buchecker, Secretary General of UECC, Davor Sertic, President of UECC, and Ocke Hamann, Managing Director of IHK Duisburg, sent the resolution as a message in a bottle during a Rhine boat trip. It will be symbolically retrieved in the fall in Duisburg.