On 10 August 2023, a broken wheel disrupted one of Europe's most important freight corridors. The accident happened in Switzerland, but wheel failures do not carry passports. Neither should the solutions.
The publication of the final Joint Network Secretariat (JNS) report (5.0) on 7 August 2026 marks the conclusion of substantial and demanding rounds of intensive work, facilitated by ERA and involving top experts from the rail stakeholders’ wide spectrum across Europe. The discussions were often difficult and sometimes controversial. Yet they produced something far more valuable than another national response: a common European solution.
Last week’s ruling from the Swiss Federal Administrative Court reinforces an important principle: European railway risks are best addressed through European coordination mechanisms and common solutions, not through unilateral national measures.
Europe's rail freight sector is facing a difficult business environment, despite being one of our strongest enablers of decarbonisation, industrial competitiveness and military mobility. At a time when Europe needs more freight on rail, not less, we must ensure that safety improvements are robust, feasible and sustainable. The sector cannot afford fragmented national responses, unnecessary costs or safety measures that do not tackle the actual risks. (....)