Austria rejects Gigaliners in government programme

16 Dec 2008. Austria as an alpine transit country is expecting no benefits of an introduction of Gigaliners in the European Union. The Austrian government has put its negative attitude over mega trucks into its government programme.

“The federal government will take a stand on the EU-level against a dilution of the current regulations regarding weights and dimensions and the driving and resting times in road traffic.”

The traffic association of Austria (VCÖ) has calculated that only the costs for rebuilding the bridges in the alpine country would aggregate to approximately 1 billion Euros. Not included in this sum are necessary expenses in reinforced safety fences, longer emergency stopping places and upgrades for the safety facilities of tunnels. Taking the cost-value ratio into account the VCÖ points out, that the admission of Gigaliners in Europe benefits primarily the interests of truck hauliers in disfavour of the general public.

VCÖ transport policy spokesman Martin Blum is warning: “Gigaliners don’t solve traffic problems, they create new ones. Roads, bridges and roundabouts would have to be rebuilt for 60 ton vehicles which would cost a lot of money. Overtaking would take longer and the risk of a deadly accident rises. Also a lot of transports would be shifted from the rail to the road. Therefore the admission of Gigaliners in the EU has to be prevented.”