The Managing Director of Die Güterbahnen, Peter Westenberger, expressed satisfaction with the "largely successful draft law by the Ministry of Transport, which addresses past delays and structural errors." Westenberger believes that the proposed major truck toll amendment can create a win-win situation for citizens, businesses, and trade while also benefiting the climate.
According to the draft, starting from January 1, 2024, the truck toll will include €200 per tonne of CO2 as external costs related to climate change. This adjustment is expected to generate approximately €6.8 billion in additional revenue in 2024, which will gradually increase with the growth of goods transportation. The change aims to expedite transition from traditional diesel trucks to alternative propulsion systems and railways. In addition, as agreed upon by the coalition committee on March 28, the extra revenue from the truck toll is intended to be utilised for "mobility." This shift aims to break the cycle of relying solely on road construction funding and instead allocate funds to railway infrastructure.
However, Westenberger highlights the need for precise provisions regarding using funds in the law. The details should be clarified as soon as possible. Die Güterbahnen advocates for establishing a long-term infrastructure fund based on the Swiss model. This would ensure that funds are invested in railways under strict control by a newly created public-interest-oriented infrastructure company.
Another point of criticism pertains to the extensive exemption of trucks with alternative propulsion systems from the partial infrastructure toll contribution. Westenberger argues that an infrastructure contribution should be mandatory regardless of the drive type. Electric trucks, for instance, also contribute to road wear and should participate in funding to prevent new financing gaps for road maintenance.
For freight railways, the proposed law addresses significant competition imbalances between road and rail. However, not all concerns have been resolved. In the future, the toll should apply to all roads, not just federal roads, as freight trains also pay train-path prices for every kilometre of their route.
