Press Release: State aid: Commission approves Austrian aid scheme for rail freight transport

The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, an Austrian aid scheme to support freight rail transport with a total budget of €1,118 million in the period 2012 to 2017. The Commission found the measure to be in line with EU state aid rules mainly because it creates a level playing field for competition between rail freight and road freight transport by allowing the state to compensate rail freight companies for additional costs faced by rail transport but not by road transport. This will ensure a higher level of frail freight transport without unduly distorting competition, in line with the EU's transport and state aid policies.