Federal government tops up 2026 single-wagonload aid by up to EUR 84m

Up to EUR 384 million are thus available in 2026, financed from unspent budget remainders; the aid relieves freight railways in single-wagonload traffic (about 18% of rail freight, serving over 2,000 freight points), which matters for the steel, chemical and automotive industries.

The Federal Transport Ministry, together with the Federal Finance Ministry, has topped up the funding guideline for single-wagonload rail freight by up to EUR 84 million; the money comes from unspent budget remainders, so up to EUR 384 million are available in 2026. The scheme is open to freight railways on the federal and non-federal networks and is meant to secure single-wagonload services across the country and encourage further modal shift to rail; the segment accounts for about 18% of rail freight, serves over 2,000 freight points and matters for the steel, chemical and automotive industries. The industry association VDV welcomes the top-up and calls for the planned cut in track-charge subsidies to be reversed in the 2027 budget. (LOK Report, 28 Aug 2026)