Railway policy news
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In depthJapan: Delays and demographic dilemmas hinder Hokkaido Shinkansen ambition
Geological difficulties have delayed the completion of the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension to Sapporo beyond 2030, while JR Hokkaido is considering the deployment of 160 to 200 km/h EMUs on its 1 067 mm network, as well as bus replacements for loss-making rural routes. Mike Bent investigates.
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In depthComment: Demography is destiny
The demographic challenges facing many countries around the world mean that rail’s ability to cost-effectively deliver benefits in low-density regions such as rural Japan or much of France is in the spotlight, our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley warns.
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NewsSwiss regulator seeks dialogue with ERA as court blocks wagon safety changes
SWITZERLAND: Amid an ongoing controversy over railway wagon safety rules, Swiss national railway safety authority BAV has extended its transitional working arrangements with the EU Agency for Railways.
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NewsAir and rail policymakers seek action on travel multimodality
EUROPE: Rail and aviation policymakers have highlighted five urgent policy needs to support efforts to develop a multimodal approach to ticketing and journey planning.
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NewsSingapore public transport sector upskilling initiative launched
SINGAPORE: Metro operator SMRT Corp, the National Trades Union Congress and National Transport Workers’ Union have signed a memorandum of understanding to help contractors’ employees develop their skills in the public transport sector.
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NewsFreight sector calls for the same political attention as high speed rail
EUROPE: The European Rail Freight Association has called for greater political awareness of the sector, arguing that recent proposals to accelerate the development of a pan-European high speed rail network ‘barely mentioned’ freight.
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Rail Business UKRSSB updates cross-industry Train Protection Strategy
UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board has updated its Train Protection Strategy, which is designed to help train operators and infrastructure managers understand and mitigate the risks of signals passed at danger and overspeeding.
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In depthComment: Tensions around Swiss tunnel regulation reflect SERA challenge
Switzerland’s recent changes to its national wagon safety regulations following the 2023 Gotthard Base Tunnel derailment have sparked a debate over how far national interests should override pan-European interoperability ambitions, says our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsEuropean Commission sets out ambitions to develop an EU high speed rail network
EUROPE: The European Commission has unveiled a plan to accelerate the development of high speed rail, saying the creation of a well-functioning and faster network by 2040 would support the goals of becoming carbon-neutral and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.
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Rail Business UKRailways Bill to create Great British Railways and ‘open the door to reform’ laid before parliament
UK: Rail Business UK looks at what the government’s Railways Bill will do, how Great British Railways will be established and what the legislation means for the wider rail sector including freight operators, the supply chain and passengers.
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Rail Business UKRail sector stakeholders respond to the government’s Railways Bill
UK: Rail Business UK provides a round-up of rail industry stakeholders’ comments on the government’s Railway Bill.
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NewsSwiss safety authority accused of ‘regulatory zigzag’ as it adjusts wagon rules further
SWITZERLAND: Federal transport office BAV has issued a further amendment to the safety rules governing wagons using the Swiss main line network. Rail freight associations are demanding the changes be dropped entirely to avert risk of what UIP terms a ‘supply chain crisis’.
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NewsCastex predicts ‘the mother of all battles’ to fund French rail infrastructure as he takes over at SNCF
FRANCE: Former Prime Minister and RATP Chief Executive Jean Castex promised to ‘fix the foundations’ of SNCF as he was confirmed in the role of President of the national railway holding group.
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NewsHungarian railway closes to create space for Chinese battery factory
HUNGARY: The last train ran on the Debrecen – Nagykereki line on October 19, with expansion of a nearby battery plant set to incorporate part of the existing railway alignment.
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In depthInfrastructure: Embracing nature can enhance rail’s soft resilience
The International Union of Railways is urging more railways to adopt Nature-based Solutions as a means to enhance the resilience of infrastructure in an era when both the natural world and man-made assets are under severe pressure from climate change.
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News‘Unilateral’ Gotthard Base Tunnel safety changes still threaten European rail freight, trade bodies warn
SWITZERLAND: Wagon owners remain concerned about changes to the rules governing freight trains passing through the Gotthard Base Tunnel. They say these have been imposed unilaterally by the Swiss authorities and pose a risk to the viability of pan-European rail freight.
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In depthFinland: Standard gauge rail links are on the agenda
Reflecting pressure from NATO and the EU to improve interoperability, Finland’s Minister of Transport Lulu Ranne has announced studies for standard gauge lines in northern Finland, with the priority being a link to Tornio on the Swedish border. Benjámin Zelki investigates.
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NewsFinnish rolling stock owning company transfer agreed
FINLAND: National train operator VR Group is to transfer the entire shareholding of its rolling stock subsidiary Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto to direct state ownership on November 1.
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In depthComment: To merge or not to merge
Union Pacific’s $85bn proposal to acquire Norfolk Southern has reignited merger speculation across the US rail industry, with activist investors urging rival operators to explore consolidation options amid changing market dynamics. However, this M&A frenzy could yet prove a risky distraction for the sector, warns Senior Editor Chris Jackson.
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News$20bn of US rail investment paused in Trump crackdown on diversity policies
USA: The Gateway Tunnel programme linking New York and New Jersey, the next phase of New York’s Second Avenue Subway and Chicago’s metro Red Line metro extension are all projects facing funding cuts as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on what it perceives as ‘unconstitutional’ DEI policies in procurement.