All Policy articles – Page 14
-
In depth
Market trends: Cautious builders eye slow recovery
While existing contracts have sustained the global rolling stock industry through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, future prospects will be determined by the pace of recovery in rail travel over the next few years.
-
In depth
Interview: ‘We have the tools – it is in our hands to deliver’
The next decade will be crucial for the global fight against irreversible climate change, and rail is the only mode that is well placed to deliver significant decarbonisation in the transport sector, UIC Director-General François Davenne explains to Chris Jackson.
-
In depth
Comment: The politics of infrastructure
Rising geopolitical complexity around the world raises a challenge that policymakers and railway planners will have to overcome if ambitions for modal shift to rail are to be realised in the years ahead, argues our Managing Editor Nick Kingsley.
-
News
Call for cross-border freight action plan
EUROPE: The International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport has called on the European Commission to produce an action plan to boost long-distance and cross-border rail freight, similar to the plan for the passenger sector which was published in December. UIRR said half of EU freight trains ...
-
In depth
Europe: Night train renaissance gathers pace
A slew of new overnight passenger services and significant investment in rolling stock is on the agenda for the next couple of years as both state-owned and independent operators revive sleeping car and couchette services across Europe. Toma Bačić investigates.
-
News
Keolis finalises Eurobahn sale
GERMANY: Groupe Keolis has reached agreement to sell its German rail operating business to Team Treuhand GmbH with effect from December 31, the company confirmed on December 23.
-
News
French Prime Minister promises rural line revival
FRANCE: Speaking in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges to mark the reopening of the line to Épinal which had been closed since December 2018, Prime Minister Jean Castex promised the ‘regeneration’ of rural lines right across France. Describing the reopening on December 12 as ‘a very symbolic moment’, Castex said ...
-
News
Railway bill clears Brazilian Congress
BRAZIL: Legislation setting out a new regulatory framework for railway concessions and simplifying the approval of new rail projects was passed by the Chamber of Deputies on December 14.
-
News
Green Rail Investment Platform to kick-start rail projects
EUROPE: The European Commission and European Investment Bank have announced a Green Rail Investment Platform, which is intended to help the rail sector access EU financing and advisory support for investment in rolling stock, electrification, new business models and technology. GRIP will support investment in infrastructure, ...
-
News
Rail sector welcomes proposed TEN-T revision
EUROPE: Rail sector representatives have welcomed the European Commission’s proposals for a revision of the trans-European transport network regulation, with the aim of improving the passenger network, setting more ambitious technical standards and providing better multimodal integration. However, they have cautioned that bringing forward deadlines would ...
-
News
European action plan for long distance and cross-border passenger rail services
EUROPE: The European Commission has set out an action plan designed to boost long distance and cross-border passenger rail services, with the aim of doubling high speed rail traffic and making scheduled public transport trips under 500 km carbon neutral by 2030, and tripling high speed ...
-
News
Direct awards agreed to replace Abellio’s Nordrhein-Westfalen contracts
GERMANY: Three local transport authorities in Nordrhein-Westfalen have agreed emergency contracts for DB Regio, National Express and Vias Rail to take over regional passenger services currently operated by Abellio Rail NRW GmbH.
-
News
Czech passenger services change hands
CZECH REPUBLIC: The timetable introduced on December 12 brought a further decline in passenger volumes operated by ČD, although the state operator has returned to two short branch lines where trains were previously run by private operators.
-
News
First Pro Trilhos construction schemes approved
BRAZIL: The federal government signed contracts with six groups on December 9 authorising them to progress nine railway construction projects which would add an estimated 3 507 km to the national network using R$50bn in private funding.
-
News
UAE Railways Programme aims to connect the emirates
UAE: A three-stage integrated railway development strategy building on the Etihad Rail network was announced by the government on December 5, during the Expo 2020 world fair. The 50bn dirham UAE Railways Programme aims to provide reliable transport connections between the emirates and support the economy, ...
-
News
EU’s Global Gateway to offer ‘values-driven’ alternative to China’s Belt & Road Initiative
INTERNATIONAL: The European Commission has unveiled its Global Gateway international investment programme, which aims to offer countries around the world a ‘values driven’ alternative to China’s Belt & Road Initiative when they are deciding how to meet their infrastructure development needs. Global Gateway aims to provide ...
-
In depth
Australia: ARA targets modal shift
The Australasian Railway Association has launched a new strategy that it hopes will bring a greater share of Australia’s expanding freight market on to the country’s railway network.
-
Rail Business UK
North Wales electrification and WCML enhancements backed in Union Connectivity Review
UK: Electrification of the coastal main line across north Wales between Crewe and Holyhead and further modernisation of the northern sections of the West Coast Main Line are among the key rail interventions recommended by Network Rail Chairman Sir Peter Hendy in his Union Connectivity Review, published on November 26.
-
News
Western Australia studies faster Perth – Bunbury link
AUSTRALIA: Work has started on the development of a strategic business case for a ‘Fast Rail’ link between Perth and Bunbury.
-
News
Norwegian passenger tendering competitions cancelled
NORWAY: The government confirmed on November 19 that it was cancelling two tendering processes for regional and inter-city passenger services.