All Policy articles – Page 17
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NewsTransdev picked to run Région Sud TER package
FRANCE: Région Sud has selected Transdev for a 10-year concession to operate regional trains between Marseille, Toulon and Nice, ahead of rival bids from SNCF and Thello.
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NewsFour policies to boost German rail freight
GERMANY: Four policies to increase rail’s share of the freight market are set out in a position paper which rail advocacy group Allianz pro Schiene has produced ahead of the federal election on September 26. These are: infrastructure investment, including increasing electrification from 61% of ...
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NewsKCS reopens talks with CP after CN merger setback
USA: Kansas City Southern has agreed to reopen discussions with Canadian Pacific, after its Board of Directors determined that CP’s latest offer could potentially lead to a superior proposal when compared to its current merger agreement with Canadian National. Having originally agreed a merger with KCS in ...
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NewsCentral European high speed rail co-operation proposed
EUROPE: Central European state operators and infrastructure managers are planning to co-operate to develop a network of ‘high speed’ passenger services connecting Warszawa, Praha, Bratislava, Ljubljana, Wien and Budapest, but independent operators have raised concerns that they could be shut out. A declaration of intent is ...
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NewsConnecting Europe Express sets off on 26-country tour
EUROPE: The Connecting Europe Express organised to celebrate the European Year of Rail set off from Lisboa Oriente station on September 2, marking the start of a five-week journey through 26 countries which will include more than 100 stops before reaching Paris on October 7.
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NewsCanadian National bid for Kansas City Southern in doubt after STB blocks voting trust
USA: Canadian National’s US$33·6bn bid to acquire Kansas City Southern received a major setback on August 31, when the federal Surface Transportation Board rejected an application to use a voting trust as part of the process. Announcing the unanimous decision of the five-strong board, STB said ...
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NewsSome trains still running amid Taliban takeover
AFGHANISTAN: Newly-appointed head of the Ministry of Public Works Rumi Bakht-ur-Rehman Sharafat held an initial meeting with ministry staff and the Afghanistan Railway Authority on August 21 following the Taliban’s takeover of the country. The acting minister said the Taliban leadership was committed to the rehabilitation ...
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NewsRENFE completes acquisition of 50% stake in Leo Express
EUROPE: Spanish national operator RENFE has gained access to the passenger markets of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia and ‘the necessary licences and resources’ to enter the German market, following the completion of its purchase of a 50% stake in Czech open access operator Leo Express.
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In depthItaly: Speeding up rail schemes
As part of its post-Covid recovery strategy, the Italian government has launched a wide-ranging programme to accelerate the delivery of major infrastructure projects, and rail is set to be a prime beneficiary. Christian Scasso investigates.
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In depthHigh Speed: Competition enlivens the European market
Instead of our regular World Speed Survey, we offer a snapshot of high speed rail developments at a time when the world is still grappling with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. Murray Hughes investigates.
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NewsRail organisations welcome Senate backing for US infrastructure bill
USA: Rail associations have welcomed the passage of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act through the upper house of the US Congress on August 10, marking the latest step in the process to pass a bi-partisan infrastructure bill which could deliver significant funding streams for main line and urban rail enhancements.
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NewsCalls for cross-industry support as coronavirus state aid approved
GERMANY: State aid measures to support the rail freight and long-distance passenger sectors and reduce track access charges during the coronavirus pandemic have been approved by the European Commission. However, private operators’ association Mofair is calling for further funding proposed by the government to be used ...
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In depthIndia: DFCs poised to unlock IR freight reforms
Completion of the first two Dedicated Freight Corridors will provide much-needed capacity, but Raghu Dayal believes they will also enable Indian Railways to transform its freight operations and marketing strategies.
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NewsEIB to update transport priorities within climate roadmap
EUROPE: The European Investment Bank is consulting on updating its transport sector lending policies to prioritise projects according to its Climate Bank Roadmap, the European Commission’s Sustainable & Smart Mobility Strategy and the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy. Rail is expected to achieve a substantially larger share ...
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NewsNorrbotniabanan final phase to go ahead
SWEDEN: The government has decided to press ahead with completion of the Norrbotniabanan coastal railway linking Umeå and Luleå via Dåva and Skellefteå.
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In depthIndia: National Rail Plan aims to drive modal shift
Infrastructure investment and policy initiatives outlined in the Ministry of Railways’ draft National Rail Plan are expected to increase Indian Railways’ market share from 26% to 45% over the next 30 years. Raghu Dayal investigates.
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NewsGerman associations seek more competition in second rail reform
GERMANY: An alliance of industry associations has called for a major reform of railway policy that would introduce full vertical separation of infrastructure and operations and foster more on-rail competition. In a position paper published on August 2, seven organisations assert that climate change objectives can only ...
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NewsArup to undertake all-Ireland rail review
EUROPE: Ireland’s Department of Transport and Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure have commissioned Arup to undertake an All Island Strategic Rail Review, which will consider how the 1 600 mm gauge rail networks can be used to improve connectivity, enhance regional accessibility and support balanced development. ...
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In depthCentral & Eastern Europe: Rail at heart of recovery package
Railways across central and eastern Europe stand to benefit as member states submit their national post-Covid recovery plans to the EU in order to access temporary stimulus funds. Toma Bačić provides a snapshot of proposals from five countries.
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News$117bn Northeast Corridor route modernisation plan unveiled
USA: A vision for modernising the 735 km main line linking Washington DC with Boston via Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York was outlined by the Northeast Corridor Commission on July 14.