Railway policy news – Page 12
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In depthSafety: Divided by a common language
A proposed recast of the EU Directive for certification of train drivers to mandate the use of English for communications on international routes has divided opinion across the European rail sector, with little sign of a consensus emerging. Toma Bačić reports.
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In depthUSA: Safety under the spotlight
With rail safety legislation making its way through the US Congress following a recent spate of derailments, the major railroads, regulators and politicians are divided over the best way to drive change. Chris Jackson investigates.
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NewsFishy tale of a very short line comes to an end
NORTH AMERICA: Settlement has been reached in a legal dispute over the isolated Bayside Canadian Railway in New Brunswick, which had been built in an effort to circumvent US shipping rules. Alaska Reefer Management and its subsidiary Kloosterboer International transport frozen fish including pollock from Alaska ...
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In depthColombia: Turning round a dilapidated network
The Colombian government is taking steps to rehabilitate key parts of the national rail network. It also has ambitions to develop an inter-ocean corridor to rival the Panamá Canal. Christian Scasso explains.
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In depthComment: Green credentials on the line
The European Commission’s Greening Freight proposals reiterate the EU’s commitment to growing rail’s share of the logistics chain, but they also set out the challenge the sector will face amid the complexity and cost of building new infrastructure, and as measures are adopted to aid the decarbonisation of competing modes.
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NewsStandard gauge railway ‘backbone’ proposed for Ukraine and Moldova
EUROPE: The construction of a 1 435 mm gauge railway ‘backbone’ has been proposed as part of a strategy for closer integration of the rail networks in Ukraine and Moldova with those of the European Union.
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NewsCommission says Dutch train operating contract would not comply with EU rules
NETHERLANDS: The European Commission says Dutch government plans to directly award state incumbent NS a 10-year public service contract to operate most passenger train services are not compliant with EU rules. The Commission has opened an infringement procedure, saying the Netherlands has failed to correctly apply ...
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NewsInnovation Council appointed to grow Australian rail supply sector
AUSTRALIA: The federal government has appointed a Rail Industry Innovation Council tasked with streamlining practices to increase domestic manufacturing as part of the National Rail Manufacturing Plan. The council is chaired by Jacqui Walters, who has been appointed as Rail Manufacturing Advocate with the aim of ...
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NewsGateway Programme back on course as Hudson tunnel gets federal grant
USA: The project to build another rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River linking New York City with New Jersey is to be allocated a further $6·9bn of federal funding.
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NewsIndustry calls for rapid implementation of European Commission proposals to boost rail freight
EUROPE: Industry associations have welcomed the European Commission’s Greening Freight proposals to improve cross-border rail freight services and standardise information on transport emissions, but have expressed concern about permitting the use of larger and heavier lorries. Noting that railways are expensive to build and increasingly congested, ...
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In depthIndia: Vande Bharat fleet can take on the airlines
A high tax burden and challenging macroeconomic conditions mean that India’s domestic aviation market has not seen the boom expected a decade ago. Indian Railways‘ investment in a new generation of premium inter-city trains can help rail to seize the advantage, as Chitresh Shrivastva* explains.
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In depthIndia: Mission 100% nears completion
The energisation of more than 6 500 route-km in the 2022-23 financial year has brought the electrified proportion of Indian Railways’ broad gauge network to over 90%, with the remainder on course to be wired during 2023-24.
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In depthIndia: Kashmir link nears completion
The long-planned railway connection to Kashmir is on course to open throughout by the end of this year, after 30 years of mixed progress which has seen the estimated cost spiral to almost Rs400bn. Raghu Dayal reports.
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NewsUNIFE urges supply industry to address PFAS chemical ban proposal
EUROPE: Supply industry association UNIFE has urged its members to pay closer attention to emerging EU legislation restricting the use of PFAS compounds in industrial applications.
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NewsComments sought on RENFE ticketing commitments
SPAIN: The European Commission has invited comments on commitments offered by national operator RENFE to address concerns over its alleged refusal to supply rival ticketing platforms with train information and real-time data. In April the Commission opened a formal investigation into whether RENFE may have restricted ...
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Urban In DepthComment: Bright light in Barcelona
The UITP summit in Barcelona emphasised the importance of public transport in supporting cities, the economy and the planet, while addressing the challenges of climate change and post-covid travel patterns. Chris Jackson reflects on the conference as a platform for collaboration to secure the future of public transport.
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NewsCartel office orders DB to end competition restrictions
GERMANY: On June 26 the national competition authority ruled that state-owned operator Deutsche Bahn must alter its commercial practices to comply with competition laws.
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NewsRail projects receive share of €6·2bn of Connecting Europe Facility grant funding
EUROPE: Various rail enhancement schemes are among the 107 projects on the Trans-European Transport Network which have been allocated a total of €6·2bn under the latest EU Connecting Europe Facility grant provisions.
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NewsRail funding debate begins in France
FRANCE: Negotiations have begun between the government and regional administrative bodies to determine levels of funding for local rail investment projects in 2023-27. The process represents an initial step in the government’s stated ambition to invest €100bn in the nation’s rail network by 2040 as part ...
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NewsImported Chinese couplers damage US manufacturers, trade commission finds
USA: Duties are to be imposed on some imported Chinese wagon couplers, after the United States International Trade Commission determined that they were being subsidised by the Chinese government and sold in the USA at less than fair value. Coupler manufacturer McConway & Torley and the ...