Rail policy & legislation news
Latest news about railway industry policy, reform, restructuring, planning, law, legislation and regulation worldwide.
Berlin S-Bahn tenders invited
GERMANY: Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg has launched the competitive tendering process for the remaining two portions of the 331 route-km Berlin S-Bahn network, covering the North-South and east-west Stadtbahn service groups.
Hauts-de-France tenders regional services
AFRANCE: Following a year of consultation over the competitive tendering of up to 10 groups of local rail services, the Hauts-de-France regional council formally invited expressions of interest on July 30 for three nine-year public service contracts to operate routes in Nord-Pas de Calais and Picardie.
ILSA-Trenitalia aims to launch Spanish high speed service from March 2022
SPAIN: The ILSA-Trenitalia joint venture has pinpointed March 1 2022 as the start date for its Spanish open access services using a fleet of 23 Frecciarossa 1000 high speed trainsets.
Grand Est seeks Alsace branch concessionaire
FRANCE: Passenger trains on the Saint-Dié-des-Vosges – Épinal line are expected to resume running in 2025 under plans unveiled by the Grand Est regional authority on July 29.
Alstom’s acquisition of Bombardier Transportation cleared by European Commission
INDUSTRY: Alstom’s proposed acquisition of Bombardier Transportation was approved by the European Commission on July 31, subject to full compliance with a number of commitments offered by Alstom.
ONS reclassifies Train Operating Companies as public non-financial corporations
UK: Train Operating Companies which are operating under Emergency Measures Agreements with the UK and Scottish governments have been reclassified as public non-financial corporations, the Office for National Statistics announced on July 31.
Batteries beat hydrogen on cost and efficiency, VDE study shows
Grand Est to pilot revitalisation of France’s rural branch lines
Pays de la Loire launches regional rail and tram-train tenders
‘Very strong emphasis’ on rail as EU allocates €2·2bn for 140 transport projects
CER blueprint to increase rail’s role under EU Green Deal
Independent operators raise night train competition concerns
Western Australia rail investment targets agriculture sector
‘Rail comeback’ could reopen 4 000 km of closed lines
Alstom proposes divestments to obtain approval for Bombardier Transportation acquisition
Agreements signed to allow direct Amsterdam – London trains
Franchise support to be extended by 18 months
French regulators formalise co-operation ahead of market opening
Indian Railways invites bids to run private passenger trains
Trains replace planes on Wien – Salzburg route
German government commits to rail at national summit
PowerHaul locos arrive in Finland as Operail expands outside Estonia
Comment: Getting back on track
Restoring Your Railway Fund could provide a toolkit for town transformation