EU railway policy news – Page 2

  • eu-european union flag-Brussels-
    News

    Connecting Europe Facility expanded in post-2027 EU budget proposal

    2025-07-22T12:00:00Z

    EUROPE: Rail bodies in Brussels have given a warm welcome to the provisional budget issued by the European Commission for the past-2027 period.

  • NS train at station
    News

    Netherlands referred to court over direct-award rail contract

    2025-07-22T10:00:00Z

    NETHERLANDS: The European Commission has decided to refer the Netherlands to the Court of Justice of the European Union over the direct award of a concession for state incumbent NS to operate passenger services in 2025-33.

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    News

    UNIFE calls for research funding to 'keep the European rail supply industry number one'

    2025-04-16T12:00:00Z

    EUROPE: Supply industry association UNIFE has called for the EU budget to include a dedicated €3bn rail research programme as the successor to the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking, saying this would help to ’keep the European rail supply industry number one in the world, amid the ...

  • NS train
    News

    Commission says Dutch train operating contract award broke EU rules

    2025-02-18T12:00:00Z

    NETHERLANDS: The European Commission has said the Netherlands failed to correctly apply EU rules on competitive tendering when it directly awarded state-owned incumbent NS a contract to operate passenger train services on the designated core rail network in 2025-33. On February 12 the Commission reported that ...

  • NTV Italo and Trenitalia high speed trains (Photo Jérémie Anne)
    In depth

    Comment: A waning appetite for competition

    2024-12-13T09:00:00Z

    While the EU’s third and fourth railway packages sought to liberalise the passenger rail sector within the bloc and influence it beyond, the establishment of a competitive dynamic within the European market seems less assured than it has for some time, argues Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.

  • ertms stakeholders platform
    In depth

    Interview: Putting ERA at the heart of Europe’s railway ecosystem

    2024-11-12T14:06:00Z

    Due to step down at the end of December, with the end of his second mandate as Executive Director of the EU Agency for Railways, Josef Doppelbauer explains to Chris Jackson what the agency has achieved over the past decade.

  • Train2InnoTrans (2)
    In depth

    Comment: Rail must respond to Draghi’s challenge

    2024-10-09T09:16:00Z

    A recent review by Mario Draghi suggests that rail can play a key role in supporting Europe’s economic competitiveness and addressing environmental challenges, but sector representatives argue that much remains to be done in the next EU legislative period to address outstanding issues.

  • Euro money notes and coins
    News

    Applications invited for €7bn of Connecting Europe Facility funding

    2023-09-26T15:53:00Z

    EUROPE: The European Commission has issued its latest call for proposals for funding under the Connecting Europe Facility, making available €7bn to support new or upgraded infrastructure on the Trans-European Transport network. CE funding can be used to support projects on the Core and Comprehensive TEN-T ...

  • 2023-05-16-SmartRailEu-0067
    In depth

    Comment: Member states hold key to a Single European Railway Area

    2023-06-06T10:16:00Z

    The European Commission has bold plans to create a Single European Railway Area, but these ambitious aims remain firmly dependent on cooperation from member states across the Eurozone, suggests our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.

  • 'A boost for rail travel and clean mobility in our cities and regions’ is included in the proposals for a major post-coronavirus recovery plan set out by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
    News

    Boost for rail travel and clean mobility in EU recovery plan

    2020-05-29T08:46:00Z

    EUROPE: ‘A boost for rail travel and clean mobility in our cities and regions’ is included in the proposals for a major post-coronavirus recovery plan for the European Union set out by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on May 27. This includes changes to the ...

  • The European Commission has proposed designating 2021 as the European Year of Rail.
    News

    2021 to be European Year of Rail

    2020-03-06T08:00:00Z

    Source: Christophe Masse EUROPE: The European Commission has proposed designating 2021 as the European Year of Rail. Subject to the proposal being adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, a series of events would promote rail as a sustainable, innovative and safe mode of transport, highlighting ...

  • The European Commission has published a proposal to revise Regulation 1371/2007 on rail passengers’ rights.
    News

    Changes to EU rail passenger rights regulation proposed

    2017-09-29T10:27:00Z

    EUROPE: A proposal to revise Regulation 1371/2007 on rail passengers’ rights was published by the European Commission on September 28. This must now be examined and adopted by the European Parliament and Council before entering into force. The Commission said its aim was to update the rules to better protect ...