Railway policy news – Page 36
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NewsSanctioned European goods transit Russia to reach China by rail
INTERNATIONAL: EU goods which are subject to Russian sanctions can now be transported from Europe to China by rail using electronic seals during transit through Russia. A test shipment of frozen salmon travelled from the Netherlands to Duisburg, where it left for Xi’an ...
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NewsLatvian railway electrification project on hold
LATVIA: National railway group LDz has put its electrification programme on hold. It said a decrease in freight volumes which began in the first half of 2019 is forecast to continue, and it would not be able to balance its budget in 2020 without additional government funding. ...
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NewsEuropean Commission approves public financing of Fehmarn Belt fixed link
EUROPE: The European Commission has concluded that Denmark’s public financing model for the Fehmarn Belt rail and road tunnel to Germany is compatible with EU state aid rules. The Commission had approved the model in July 2015, but ferry companies Scandlines and Stena Line subsequently appealed. In ...
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NewsUK train operators offered management contracts or nationalisation
UK: The Department for Transport has given the franchised passenger train operators it is responsible for the opportunity to move to temporary management contracts. On March 23 DfT said it would temporarily suspend existing franchise agreements and transfer all revenue and cost risk to the government for ...
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Metro Report InternationalAPTA members ask Congress for $16bn in emergency coronavirus support
New Jersey Transit is one of the largest commuter rail operators in the USA. USA: The public transport industry urgently needs up to $16bn in federal government funding support to survive the coronavirus crisis, the American Public Transportation Association announced on March 19. APTA has urged Congress ...
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Metro Report InternationalLondon Underground, rail and bus services cut by coronavirus
UK: Major cuts to metro, rail and bus services were announced by Transport for London on March 18, with the operator explaining that Mayor of London Sadiq Khan had asked it to focus on enabling ‘critical workers to make essential journeys’ during the Covid-19 pandemic. Up ...
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NewsUIC publishes Covid-19 management guidance for railway stakeholders
INTERNATIONAL: Following the first meeting of its coronvirus task force, the International Union of Railways has published Management of Covid-19: Guidance for Railway Stakeholders. UIC has published Management of Covid-19: Guidance for Railway Stakeholders. The document which is freely available online is designed ...
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Metro Report InternationalTransport for London forecasts £500m financial impact from coronavirus
UK: Transport for London has issued an update on how the coronavirus has affected passenger numbers and how it intends to utilise its reserves to manage the forecast initial financial impact of £500m. On March 16 TfL said it had seen an underlying softness in demand and ...
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NewsIntermodal sector calls for ‘fast, lean, pragmatic’ measures to safeguard rail freight in the coronavirus crisis
EUROPE: A group of organisations involved in the intermodal freight sector have published an open letter to European and Italian institutions emphasising the importance of acting in a ‘fast, lean, pragmatic way’ to safeguard rail transport as a strategic asset for the economy during the coronavirus outbreak. ...
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NewsInternational Union of Railways forms coronavirus task force
INTERNATIONAL: The International Union of Railways has formed a Covid-19 Task Force which will work with the rail section and external organisations to disseminate best practice on limiting and managing the disease’s outbreak while taking into account rail-specific issues and ensuring harmonisation within the railway community. UIC ...
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News‘Beware the bubble’, warn level crossing safety campaigners
INTERNATIONAL: The International Union of Railways has selected ‘Beware the bubble’ as the theme for the 12th International Level Crossing Awareness Day, which will take place on June 11.
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NewsLIVE: rail sector responds to coronavirus
Rolling updates on the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the global railway industry.
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NewsCentral Asia transport strategy for 2030
ASIA: The Central Asia Regional Economic Co-operation programme has published its Transport Strategy 2030, building on lessons learned from the Transport & Trade Facilitation Strategy 2020. According to CAREC, 1 800 km of railway was built in the period covered by that strategy. ...
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News2021 to be European Year of Rail
Source: Christophe Masse EUROPE: The European Commission has proposed designating 2021 as the European Year of Rail. Subject to the proposal being adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, a series of events would promote rail as a sustainable, innovative and safe mode of transport, highlighting ...
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NewsLightweight trains and no taboos in French secondary line rescue package
Source: Christophe Masse FRANCE: Development of lightweight rolling stock is one of several proposals put forward by the government to try and ensure the survival of much of the remaining network of secondary lines, many of which carry very limited traffic. Secretary of State for Transport Jean-Baptiste ...
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Rail Business UKNorthern enters public ownership with new Managing Director
Speaking to Rail Business UK, Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps accepted that whilst some changes would come in immediately, including deep cleaning of all trains and improvements to Sunday timetables, passengers needed to accept that ‘things won’t change overnight’.
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NewsEuropean passenger corridors needed to boost rail’s market share
EUROPE: In a bid to boost rail’s market share for international traffic, the Netherlands’ Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management has put forward proposals to develop a pan-European network of passenger corridors, similar to those already in place for rail freight.
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NewsFederal Railroad Administration launches risk-reduction programme
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule launching a risk-reduction programme. This requires Class I railways to identify and analyse hazards, and develop and implement an FRA-approved safety plan to eliminate or mitigate the risks. The rule implements a mandate required by the Rail ...
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NewsRomania ordered to recover €570m of state aid to freight operator
ROMANIA: The European Commission has ordered the government to recover €570m of state aid incompatible with EU rules which national freight operator CFR Marfă received through a debt write-off and failure to collect debts. The Commission said rail freight transport in Romania is highly competitive, with numerous ...
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NewsSpanish infrastructure managers fined for inflated access charges
SPAIN: Competition regulator CNMC has fined infrastructure managers ADIF and ADIF Alta Velocidad for imposing excessive access charges. However, under current railway legislation, the maximum fine is just €6 300, which CNMC believes is too low to enable it to perform its duties as a regulator. For ...