LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Spring 2007

by Johannes Ludewig / Drewin Nieuwenhuis

 

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Sir,

Herbert Lust argued in his article ,that air transport is penalised in the EU, with railways favoured as a more “politically correct“ means of transport. He added that even though airlines contribute significantly to the mobility and employment of European citizens, they are charged heavily for their use of Europe’s airports and for their environmental impact.

We believe that rail and air should be considered not as rivals but as complementary modes of transport. This is already recognised by some leading European airlines, with Lufthansa and Air France/KLM both partners in high-speed rail alliances which provide short- and medium-distance feeder services for their profitable long-haul air passenger businesses.

We note Lust’s observation that investment in railway operations and infrastructure is often supported by local, regional or national governments. This is a political decision in response to growing public demand for transport worldwide. But we understand that the same applies to airports, whose initial construction is usually financed by regional or national governments, which then quite often transfer management of the airport to private companies.

Certainly, as Lust says, some of these airports boost the economic development of their regions. So do railways. The economic benefits to businesses that operate close to mainline or metro stations should not be underestimated, even if the positive impact of good access to rail links is rarely quantified.

Rather than arguing over comparative economic statistics, however, it would be better to realise that all transport modes – road, rail, water and air – are needed to handle global demands for increased passenger and freight transport. No one system can manage alone. Each must identify and fulfil its most suitable role.

Railways in Europe are probably best suited to serve urban and industrial areas and provide their main links over distances of, say, 400 or 500 kilometres. Airlines should provide the major transport services over longer distances. This combination would both reduce air space congestion and help cities to remain accessible in an environmentally acceptable way.

As all frequent flyers know well, one’s destination is never an airport. Business travellers are usually heading for an office that was once in a city centre but which for environmental and capacity reasons is today more and more likely to be located away from the centre. We therefore increasingly need additional non-air transport services to reach our business meetings. It is clear that in our increasingly congested world, rail and air can and must be complementary rather than competing forms of transport.