Rail freight in the EU: a problem-oriented survey (Part I)

This paper consists of a survey on rail freight in the EU, where the prime objective is to reveal the current situation of the rail freight in the EU and raises looming questions for discussion. The paper is organized in three chapters, as follows: 1.Overview reveals the current situation with the European railways and raises questions about the future of these systems; 2.Levels of Operation discusses how the European railways are viewed at both International and National level and suggests some steps for action; and 3.Synthesis. It should be noted that this paper is the Part I of III Problem-Oriented Surveys dedicated to rail freight issues of today.