Revision of the railway state aid guidelines

Rail transport and inland waterways are crucial to achieve the objectives outlined in the Green Deal agenda. These aims include a 55% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 and attaining climate neutrality by 2050. The Railway Guidelines play a fundamental role in this context, enabling support for the transition to more sustainable transport modes. They aimed to endorse the Member State investments necessary for the completion of the single transport area, and the green and digital transitions (together with other state aid guidelines). Since their adoption in 2008, around 75 measures have been found compatible with the Treaty based on the Railway Guidelines, particularly concerning state aid for the coordination of transport, with a total budget of over EUR 9 billion to encourage a modal shift from road to rail freight transport. The main objective of the Railway Guidelines was to accompany the sectoral policy on full liberalisation of the rail sector and completion of a single European rail market in which full interoperability is ensured. Furthermore, the Railway Guidelines aimed to facilitate the restructuring of a sector marked by significant indebtedness.