Aid scheme for rail freight transport by wagonload

Aid for single wagonload rail freight transport

This aid scheme is intended to support single wagonload rail freight transport transiting through the marshalling yard Antwerpen-Noord in the port of Antwerp. This scheme was introduced by the federal government to double the volume of goods transported by rail by 2030.

Single wagonload transport is subject to high fixed costs, which are generated by the sorting of wagons to be routed to their destinations and by the collection and redistribution of wagons between the last marshalling yard and the final customers. Such costs are not borne by road transport, which can be carried out door-to-door.

By reimbursing the costs of using the marshalling yard Antwerpen-Noord, the aid scheme aims to offset part of the additional costs incurred by single wagonload transport compared with other, more polluting competing modes of transport, such as road transport, and in so doing to support the modal shift of freight transport from road to rail.

For the period between July 2023 and December 2024, a total amount of €16 million has been allocated to this aid scheme.
This aid is granted in accordance with the Act of 4 July 2023 on support for single wagonload rail freight transport and its implementing Royal Decree.

Who is eligible for aid?

The beneficiaries of this aid scheme are EU railway undertakings providing single wagonload rail freight transport services and using the marshalling yards Antwerpen-Noord. These undertakings must comply with the eligibility conditions laid down in Chapter III of the Act of 4 July 2023.

How is aid calculated?

The aid is calculated on the basis of a fixed sum of maximum €75 per wagon. This fixed sum is the same for each type of marshalling provided by the operator of the marshalling yards Antwerpen-Noord. Aid is granted from the moment the wagon leaves the marshalling yard. The fixed sum may be revised on a pro rata basis depending on the applications received and taking into account the budget available for this aid scheme.

How to get aid?

Applicants can submit their applications by sending the forms listed below, duly completed and accompanied by the required annexes, to the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport:

Forms:

• Administrative information;
• Sworn statement.

Annexes:

• a copy of the railway undertaking licence;
• a copy of the safety certificate;
• a copy of the invoices sent by the manager of the marshalling yard Antwerpen-Noord (invoices and Excel table showing the details) for the period between 1 July 2023 and 31 December 2024.

To enable the authorities to process the applications as quickly as possible, beneficiaries are encouraged to submit the above documents to the authorities by the 13^th December 2024 at the following address: be.railfunding@mobilit.fgov.be

Controls

The FPS Mobility and Transport is responsible for ensuring compliance with the conditions for granting subsidies. The undertakings benefiting from this aid scheme will be subject to controls by the FPS Mobility and Transport within the meaning of the provisions laid down in the Act of 4 July 2023 on support for single wagonload rail freight transport.

Questions

Any questions about the procedure for being granted aid can also be sent to the following email address: be.railfunding@mobilit.fgov.be.