All Policy articles – Page 8
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News$9bn to fund Northeast Corridor upgrading
USA: The Department of Transportation is making available nearly $9bn in funding to support infrastructure renewals and expand passenger services along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor
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In depthAustralia: Reshaping Brisbane’s rail connections
With construction of the Cross River Rail link well underway, Queensland’s state government has unveiled a comprehensive strategy for development of Brisbane’s regional rail network to accommodate projected population growth. Chris Jackson explores the proposals.
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NewsShort line natural disaster recovery funding bill introduced
USA: A bill has been introduced to Congress which would authorise the Department of Transportation to provide emergency funding to assist short line railways with recovery from natural disasters.
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Rail Business UKRail leaders frustrated as DfT tightens grip and cuts loom
UK: Rail Business UK has taken soundings from across the train operating companies, Network Rail and from sources close to the Department for Transport, finding a bleak outlook. Industry leaders fear having to implement stark cuts to rail provision, even if the industrial relations issues plaguing the sector can be resolved.
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NewsFreight future in doubt as energy costs soar
FRANCE: Rail freight operators are facing a catastrophic future if the government does not offer help with a massive rise in energy costs, according to industry body Fret Ferroviaire Français du Futur.
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In depthIndia: On the way to a sustainable railway
As well as its traction decarbonisation strategy, Indian Railways has launched a raft of initiatives aimed at improving its wider environmental credentials. Raghu Dayal investigates.
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NewsUkraine withdraws from CIS Railway Council
UKRAINE: Ukraine has withdrawn from the CIS Railway Council, which was established in 1992 to facilitate continued interoperability between the railways across the former Soviet Union. National railway Ukrzaliznytsia cut all ties with Russia and Belarus following the full-scale invasion on February 24. The military removed ...
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NewsAix-Marseille-Provence city region invests in local freight
FRANCE: The Aix-Marseille-Provence Métropole is to invest significant funds in local rail freight services and terminals over the next four years, as part of a strategy to reduce road congestion and associated pollution across the metropolitan area.
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NewsLegislation passed to avert US rail strike
USA: The House and Senate have passed legislation to avert a major strike by forcing railway companies and trades unions to implement tentative agreements negotiated by a Presidential Emergency Board, which four unions had not ratified. ‘I know that many in Congress shared my reluctance to ...
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In depthComment: Transport back on the climate agenda
The recent COP27 climate summit in Egypt received a broadly underwhelming response, but for the rail and public transport sectors at least, there were signs of hope that the mobility transition is edging back on to the global climate agenda after being largely absent at COP26 in Glasgow last year.
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NewsDB Netz and DB Station&Service become InfraGO
GERMANY: The federal government is planning to complete the merger of DB Netz AG and DB Station&Service AG by January 1 2024, when the merged business will become known as InfraGO. More details of the government’s plans for restructuring the two Deutsche Bahn businesses emerged on ...
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In depthAsia: ESCAP rethinks trans-continental supply chains
Covid-19 and the Ukrainian crisis have impacted on Eurasian rail flows, but ESCAP believes railways still have a key role to play in an integrated multimodal transport system supporting global supply chains. Raghu Dayal reports.
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In depthInterview: Rail can address Europe’s societal challenges
From tensions with Russia to the climate emergency, rail has a role to play at the heart of Europe’s response to the biggest questions of the age, believes CER Executive Director Alberto Mazzola. But he tells Nick Kingsley that more investment is needed to boost both capacity and capability.
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NewsNorwegian ERTMS programme delayed
NORWAY: Citing global supply problems and delays to the retrofitting of trains, Bane Nor has postponed the planned launch of ERTMS on its first lines.
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NewsElectric transport support approved
CZECH REPUBLIC: The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules a scheme to promote the use of electric transport as a greener alternative to diesel vehicles, and to support a shift of freight and passenger traffic from road to rail. Under the €180m scheme ...
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In depthIsrael: ISR expansion ramps up again
Israel Railways has embarked on an ambitious strategy to double the size of its network, as it seeks to cope with a projected quadrupling of demand by 2030. CEO Michael Maixner explains his priorities to Chris Jackson.
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NewsSupport scheme aims to make Belgium an international night train hub
BELGIUM: The Council of Ministers has approved a draft law which aims to encourage the operation of attractively priced international night trains by offering reductions in infrastructure access charges and energy costs. The high loadings on the thrice-weekly Nightjet service between Brussels and Wien show the ...
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NewsConsortium to develop low-cost operations to revive France’s local lines
FRANCE: Thales is part of a consortium of companies and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region seeking to reduce the cost of running trains on lightly-used rural lines.
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NewsLobito Corridor concession deal signed
ANGOLA: The Ministry of Transport has signed a concession agreement covering operation and maintenance of the Lobito Corridor for the next 30 years.
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NewsDutch battery-electric train initiative halted
NETHERLANDS: The northeastern province of Overijssel has frozen its plans for deploying battery-electric trains on non-electrified routes from 2027.