The EU Year of Rail 2021 has officially been launched. What better way to celebrate than welcoming two new members to the RFF coalition? Portugal’s MEDWAY and Lithuania’s LTG Cargo may be based at opposite ends of Europe with their headquarters nearly 4,000km apart, but they share the same goal. They share our RFF goal: to increase the modal share of rail freight in Europe to 30% by 2030 and drastically reduce the negative impact freight transport has had on the planet.
MEDWAY has joined the Rail Freight Forward coalition in order to help foster the rail freight sector's competitiveness through technological development based on common objectives. Rail transport currently allows a reduction of about 70% of CO2 eq. emissions, compared to the same transport by road – a reduction that can reach 74% if the transport is carried out exclusively with electric locomotives.
MEDWAY is a logistics operator and the largest private rail freight operator in the Iberian Peninsula, capable of offering integrated logistics solutions. It owns a vast fleet of locomotives and wagons - 69 locomotives (35 of which are electric) and 2917 wagons - as well as several logistical terminals and a maintenance and repair area for railway equipment. MEDWAY is part of MEDLOG, a logistics operator operating in more than 70 countries.
“The protection of the environment is an urgent need and a mission to which we have been committed for a long time. As a freight transport agent, it is up to us to be a catalyst for initiatives for a more sustainable and better planet to live, namely through mobility and the promotion of the rail transport use, with the aim of reducing emissions, decongesting roads, the reduction of road fatalities and the decrease of noise. Thus, we join Rail Freight Forward with the ambition, together with international companies in the sector, to reduce the negative effects of freight transport and promote a more sustainable economy”, highlights Bruno Silva, Managing Director of MEDWAY.
In a period that marks the European Year of Rail Transport, MEDWAY is thus taking another step in its sustainability strategy, boosting the promotion of rail freight as the most sustainable option for companies, so that, together, we can make a strong contribution to climate neutrality.
Clemens Först, Chairman of RFF says, “We’re thrilled to welcome Medway, the largest private rail freight operator on the Iberian Peninsula, to the RFF coalition.
This coincides with Portugal’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union as they lead us into the EU Year of Rail.
Another huge milestone on our way to 30 by 2030 - let’s modal shift Europe together!”
RFF is also proud to welcome LTG Cargo to the coalition in this Year of Rail. LTG Cargo is the largest freight and logistics services company in the Baltic region and is committed to connecting businesses across the Eurasian continent – for a better future for us all.
From the Iberian Peninsula to the Baltic States – and beyond – together the RFF coalition members are driving forward a revolution in rail freight transport for the sustainable future of mobility. For our climate, for our economies, for our societies. In short, for our future.
