Railway policy news – Page 3
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NewsCalifornia to sue Trump administration over high speed rail funding cut
USA: Governor Gavin Newsom says the state will launch legal action after the Trump administration confirmed on July 15 its intention to strip at least $4bn in federal funding from the California High Speed Rail Authority.
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NewsTaskforce to study launch of direct UK – Germany trains
EUROPE: The British and German governments are to establish a joint taskforce to study the requirements for the launch of direct passenger trains services between the countries within the next 10 years.
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NewsConnecting Europe Facility grants awarded as calls grow to protect EU rail funding
EUROPE: The European Commission has announced nearly €2∙8bn in Connecting Europe Facility grants, with the rail sector being the leading beneficiary. Nevertheless, concerns over the future of CEF and the EU’s wider commitment to rail spending are mounting.
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NewsProductivity trumps sustainability for business travellers
EUROPE: The ability to use a train as a rolling office space is the key factor driving business customers to pick rail over other modes when they travel for work, according to a survey commissioned by Amex GBT.
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NewsRail to benefit from €106bn German infrastructure renewal spend by 2029
GERMANY: The federal government has approved the first tranche of rail asset renewal funding as part of a national infrastructure spending drive worth up to €500bn across the economy.
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Metro Report InternationalRIDDOR access incorporated into light rail safety reporting system
UK: The processes for statutory incident reporting in the light rail sector are to be streamlined into a single access point.
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NewsUruguay to draw up railway master plan
URUGUAY: An agreement to draw-up a master plan to revitalise and modernise the national railway system has been signed.
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NewsMonopoly commission recommends splitting-off German railway infrastructure
GERMANY: The monopoly commission says infrastructure manager DB InfraGO should be separated from the rest of Deutsche Bahn.
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NewsCalifornia High Speed Rail Authority rebuts ‘misleading’ FRA compliance report
USA: The California High Speed Rail Authority has rejected the premise of a Federal Railroad Administration compliance report which has sought to strip the project of around $4bn in funding.
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NewsBulgaria sets out plans to tender passenger train operating contracts
BULGARIA: The Ministry of Transport & Communications has begun public consultation on its draft framework for the competitive award of contracts for the operation of passenger rail services.
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In depthComment: Rail’s ‘green advantage’ is at risk
Amid signs of a political shift from climate mitigation to climate adaptation, the rail industry’s long-standing focus on its green credentials may be losing its effectiveness. Our Industry Editor Benjámin Zelki argues that it is time for rail to reassert its wider societal advantages.
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Rail Business UKGovernment confirms more than £15bn of city region local transport funding
UK: Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced five-year funding agreements totalling £15·6bn which will enable England’s mayoral combined authorities to progress local transport projects within city regions and surrounding towns.
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In depthCanada: VIA Rail issues rallying call as CN dispute drags on
Amid a fraught relationship with its principal host railroad Canadian National, passenger operator VIA Rail is looking for help from the government, regulators and its suppliers as it seeks to improve reliability and enhance its offering. Nick Kingsley reports from Toronto.
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NewsKonkan Railway to be merged into Indian Railways
INDIA: The quasi-independent Konkan Railway is on course to be merged into Indian Railways.
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NewsEuropean Commission issues guidelines on railway infrastructure access charges
EUROPE: The European Commission has adopted guidelines on the setting of track access charges, aiming to prevent mark-ups being a barrier to market entry.
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Rail Business UKUK should join the Single European Railway Area, says AllRail
EUROPE: Taking the UK into SERA would ‘embrace a forward-looking, practical partnership that delivers for citizens, businesses and the climate’.
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Rail Business UKFirst operator transfers to public sector under UK rail nationalisation programme
UK: South Western Railway becomes the first contracted passenger train operator to pass to the public sector under the government’s nationalisation programme in the early hours of May 26.
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In depthUSA: Private sector can lead a passenger revival
Californian start-up Dreamstar Lines is seeking to launch a network of privately funded night trains across the USA. Co-founder & CEO Joshua Dominic issues a rallying call for private investment to fill the gaps in transport provision across North America.
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NewsGerman rail infrastucture is a problem for Europe, freight associations say
GERMANY: European and national rail freight associations have written to the new federal transport minister raising concerns about DB InfraGO failing to provide the required infrastructure quality and customer-oriented information.
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NewsAlbania plans passenger train operating concession
ALBANIA: The Ministry of Infrastructure & Energy and the EU-funded CONNECTA2 programme are developing plans to award a public service contract for the operation of passenger trains on the national rail network.