On 10 January, 12 industry associations issued a joint open letter calling for negotiating partners on the European Railway Capacity Management Regulation to adopt an ambitious and international approach to the file. The Regulation is viewed as an important tool to improve the reliability of rail freight services and, with it, improve the functioning of European supply chains and the broader economy. This initiative from ERFA, jointly with other industry associations, reflects the high importance and interest of European industry in rail freight, but also the expectations for a change in capacity management. The Regulation, proposed by the European Commission on 10 July 2023, seeks to move European railway capacity from a system which is manual, national and rigid to a digital, international and flexible system. This is particularly important for rail freight services where over 50% of all trains cross at least one national border. (....)