Posted 21st May 2009 | 3 Comments

Old car trade in scheme slammed by European rail leaders

Manufacturers pushing new car sales

THE European rail industry has attacked government schemes that promote sales of new cars by subsidising trade-ins of older vehicles as “an inappropriate use of public money.”

In a letter to European Commission president Jose Barroso, rail industry chiefs slammed the scheme as favouring one mode of transport without aiming to cut the environmental impact of cars.

“They are in effect a straightforward subsidy to one of the most polluting industries,” said the letter from the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies, which represents public and private rail operators, and the Association of the European Rail Industry, the pan-European organisation for companies producing trains and rail equipment.

The rail industry leaders singled out schemes in the UK and Germany for not giving consumers enough incentives to buy cleaner cars, an outcome that “sustains car dependency” and “in a time of environmental crisis is irresponsible.”


Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • H T Harvey, Birmingham, UK

    Whilst I agree qwith you statements don't worry to much this will be a once only effect and is likely to create a 'trough' in purchases after removal of the scheme.

  • John, Birmingham, UK

    I can't understand why they happily watch thousands of construction jobs dissappear but are terrified of a car factory shutting down?

    The politicians of this country are addicted to cars and think everyone must live their lives dominated by cars also.

  • leslie burge, leicester, england

    This just goes to prove that the government are not interested in the
    environment. They are hooked on cars and they think it is the only
    way for the economy to pick up. How short sighted thet are .
    All the money spent on these worthless schemes should be being
    invested in the transport infrastructure of the country. And what more
    environmentally and green way of doing it and also creating jobs would be to start electrifying all lines and gauge enhancment as well.