In accordance with the European State Aid rules and the Guidelines on State aid for railway undertakings, on 9 February 2022 the Commission approved the €30 million supplied by the Spanish government to remove barriers to interoperability in rail freight transport in Spain and to promote the modal shift of freight transport from road to rail.

Funded through the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and taking the form of direct grants, the scheme aims to finance, on the one hand, the upgrading of European Rail Traffic Management Systems (ERTMS) on-board equipment and, on the other hand, other measures to remove barriers to rail interoperability such as, amongst the others, the installation of noise reduction systems and variable gauge axles on rail freight wagons and the adaptation of locomotives to different voltages, thereby achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

According to the Commission, the scheme will contribute to transport coordination in line with the European policy objectives and without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market. The scheme, indeed, is necessary to enhance interoperability and promote the use of rail transport, thereby being beneficial both for the environment and for mobility, and will encourage its beneficiaries not to carry out investments in the absence of the public support.

Marco Stillo