Climate protection initiatives

As a founding member of the initiative Rail Freight Forward , a coalition of European freight railroad companies, we have set ourselves the goal of shifting the growing volume of freight traffic from road to rail and increasing the modal share of rail freight transport in Europe to 30 % by 2030. This would avoid 25 million tonnes of CO 2 emissions and about 25 billion Euros in external costs from 2030. Our stated goal is to shift more freight traffic onto the rails. The railway is the only means to reconcile climate goals with economic and consequently transportation growth. In Austria, we are frontrunners with a modal share of 27.5 %*, but in Europe, we have an average of around 18 %. However, freight transport primarily takes place internationally , which is why we also advocate at a European level for raising the modal share to at least the Austrian level of around 30 %. It’s up to all of us – rail transport companies, infrastructure managers, and politicians throughout Europe – to make the modal shift a reality. On an international level 18 % Status of EU average As of 2022 Status in Austria As of 2022: Preliminary value Goal for EU average by 2030 Source: Rail Freight Forward (Europe-wide numbers) 30 % 27,5 % * Preliminary value based on available data. March 2025 WE ARE RAILCORE