Railway policy news – Page 2
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NewsCombined transport association sets out what rail needs from EU regulatory changes
EUROPE: Combined transport assocation UIRR has published an updated position paper on the EU’s forthcoming Rail Infrastructure Capacity Management Regulation.
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NewsRail suppliers call for EU public procurement rule change
EUROPE: Rail suppliers’ association UNIFE has called on the European Commission to ‘deter’ non-EU companies from bidding for EU public contracts if their home markets are not open to EU suppliers.
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In depthBelgium: A 10-year learning journey in ETCS deployment
Infrabel is nearing the end of a complex programme to roll out ETCS train protection across its network, using a variety of modes to accelerate the deployment and learning some valuable lessons along the way.
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NewsCalifornia secures $1bn annual funding for high speed programme
USA: California governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation securing $1bn of annual funding until 2045 for the state’s high speed rail project, resolving funding gaps for the Central Valley section of the route.
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NewsGerman transport minister announces ‘new start’ for Deutsche Bahn
GERMANY: Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder has announced a ‘new start’ for national railway group Deutsche Bahn, which is to be reformed with a simplified structure and a greater separation between its train operating business and infrastructure arm DB InfraGO.
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In depthHungary: ETCS deployment makes slow progress
The maximum speed on two Hungarian lines has been increased to 160 km/h following the introduction of ETCS Level 2, and officials report progress with its deployment by Chinese contractors on the Budapest – Beograd corridor. Benjámin Zelki investigates.
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NewsGreece restructures railway infrastructure manager to implement safety and efficiency improvements
GREECE: The government has restructured the way the rail infrastructure is managed, in response to the systemic failures exposed by the head-on collision between passenger and freight trains near Tempi which killed 57 people.
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NewsRegioJet and Leo Express target Warszawa – Kraków route
POLAND: RegioJet is launching daily Warszawa – Kraków services on September 18, with Leo Express planning to extend its Praha – Kraków service to Warszawa next March, following regulatory approval.
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In depthComment: A change of direction
The future of the German rail network is once again in the spotlight. With Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder describing DB’s situation as ‘dramatic’, our Senior Editor Chris Jackson explains why all eyes wil be on Berlin in September as a potentially major policy reset looms.
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NewsCanada aims to start Alto high speed rail construction in four years
CANADA: The Alto high speed rail project is to benefit from a Major Projects Office which the government has established to identify projects that are in the national interest and streamline their assessment and approval to accelerate development.
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NewsSBB Cargo aims to cut operating costs
SWITZERLAND: State-owned SBB Cargo is undertaking a realignment of its freight services under the Suisse Cargo Logistics programme, which would see the company become self-sufficient.
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NewsProductivity, resilience, decarbonisation and data priorities for Australian freight
AUSTRALIA: The government has ’refreshed’ its National Freight & Supply Chain Strategy to take into account the impact of Covid-19, geopolitical shifts, extreme weather events and worker shortages.
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In depthSouth Asia: Trans-continental rail vision battles fraught geopolitics
South Asia remains one of the world’s least integrated regions, but despite a complex geopolitical situation the development of cross-border rail links continues to make slow progress.
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NewsPost-Brexit reform of Channel Tunnel regulations agreed
EUROPE: The UK and France have signed the last of four agreements to harmonise technical and safety rules and establish long-term governance arrangements for the Channel Tunnel following the UK’s departure from the EU.
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NewsRolling stock company formed to facilitate competition in the Finnish passenger market
FINLAND: Rolling stock owning company Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto has been created to facilitate government plans to tender the operation of publicly-funded passenger rail services.
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NewsAustralia to adopt ETCS for interoperable rail network
AUSTRALIA: National, state and territory transport ministers have backed the adoption of ETCS for national interoperability, as well as plans to streamline rolling stock approvals and enable the Rail Industry Safety & Standards Board to lead the setting of technical standards.
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NewsNew Deutsche Bahn CEO sought as Lutz to finish term early
GERMANY: The search is underway for a new Deutsche Bahn Chief Executive, after federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder announced that incumbent Richard Lutz will finish his term early.
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NewsArmenia-Azerbaijan declaration rebrands Zangezur rail corridor as the Trump Route for International Peace & Prosperity
INTERNATIONAL: The opening up of all regional transport routes, including the long-mooted Zangezur Corridor – now renamed the Trump Route for International Peace & Prosperity – is included in a joint declaration agreeing to end the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
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NewsConnecting Europe Facility expanded in post-2027 EU budget proposal
EUROPE: Rail bodies in Brussels have given a warm welcome to the provisional budget issued by the European Commission for the past-2027 period.
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NewsNetherlands referred to court over direct-award rail contract
NETHERLANDS: The European Commission has decided to refer the Netherlands to the Court of Justice of the European Union over the direct award of a concession for state incumbent NS to operate passenger services in 2025-33.