Railway policy news – Page 10
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NewsProgress being made towards Single European Railway Area, says ERA
Reflecting progress with its key roles of technical harmonisation and authorisation, the EU Agency for Railways has been reviewing its mission and setting out priorities for the coming years, as Executive Director Josef Doppelbauer explains to Nick Kingsley.
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In depthTechnology: Keeping track of tram-trains
Enhanced control and supervision tools have been deployed to improve the operation of tram-trains around Karlsruhe, where portion working is a common but complicated process.
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NewsANTT updates new project rules
BRAZIL: National Land Transport Agency ANTT has published updated draft regulations for applications seeking approval to establish and operate new railway projects, including marshalling yards and ancillary facilities. Announced at the start of September, Resolution 5987 follows the promulgation and coming into force of the 2021 ...
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NewsEU member states must support rail, says Commissioner
INNOTRANS: ‘Rail is a growing sector, which can help Europe meet its Green Deal targets’, emphasised EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean at the opening ceremony for InnoTrans 2022 in Berlin on September 20. Enthusing that it was ‘a real pleasure to see all the innovations ...
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NewsFlytoget invited to run regional trains in eastern Norway
NORWAY: Jernbanedirektoratet has invited airport express operator Flytoget to bid for a contract to run regional passenger services on a package of routes radiating from Oslo.
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In depthFreight: Pulling the right levers to boost modal share
Governments around the world are keen to improve rail’s share of the freight market, although there are stark contrasts in start points and end goals between regions. Nevertheless, consultancy Roland Berger believes a comprehensive set of levers can be pulled to boost rail freight globally.
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In depthFreight: Act now to align the stars
UIP President Dr Heiko Fischer takes us on a journey to the 2030s, when the goals for the development of European rail freight have been met, and sets out the change in mentality required across the sector to make this a reality.
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NewsFrench regulator seeks improved network access for freight operators
FRANCE: Rail regulator Autorité de Régulation des Transports published its formal decision on September 6 in a dispute over network access between SNCF Réseau and freight operators Captrain France, T3M, Europorte France and Régiorail.
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NewsRail industry calls for action on rising energy costs
EUROPE: Energy price rises pose a serious risk to rail’s modal share according to two industry associations, which have called for action to ensure an uninterrupted and affordable supply of energy for the sector.
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In depthGermany: Government tightens control over national operator
This summer’s eye-catching €9 ticket deal in Germany focused the spotlight on rail travel, but it also served to highlight the national railway’s failings. Plummeting performance levels are one reason the government is intervening in an attempt to restore punctuality and reliability. Murray Hughes reports.
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In depthFreight: Rebuilding market share in Spain
The Spanish government’s Mercancías 30 strategy aims to more than double the share of goods moved by rail to at least 10% by 2030. Mike Bent reports.
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In depthComment: Cheap fares alone are not enough
Many more rail trips were made in Germany this summer than in 2019 thanks to the much-publicised €9 ticket allowing unlimited travel on local and regional trains and other public transport. But our Consultant Editor Murray Hughes suggests that cheap fares alone will not be enough to deliver policymakers’ modal shift ambitions.
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NewsSix policy reforms to strengthen railways in Central Asia
ASIA: An Asian Development Bank assessment of the state of railways in the 11 countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Co-operation Programme has set out six reforms that ADB believes are needed to make rail more efficient and financially sustainable. The CAREC area covers Afghanistan, ...
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In depthItaly: Accelerating the national rail investment programme
Managing Director of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana Vera Fiorani and Enrico Giovannini, Minister of Infrastructure & Sustainable Mobility, have confirmed plans to meet sustainability targets and accelerate investment in railway infrastructure as part of Italy’s post-Covid economic recovery programme. Christian Scasso reports.
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NewsHessen updates list of railways for reopening
GERMANY: The Land of Hessen has updated its list of closed railways which are considered potentially suitable for reopening, adding seven routes to take the total to 24.
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NewsFinland responds to European Commission regauging proposal
FINLAND: Minister of Transport & Communications Timo Harakka has described as ‘unreasonable’ the European Commission’s proposal to require the use of 1 435 mm gauge throughout the TEN-T rail network, arguing that Finland should be regarded as a special case. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ...
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NewsBenefits accrue from rural railway reopenings, study finds
GERMANY: Reopening rural railways offers an important spectrum of benefits, according to a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development & Building.
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NewsPresident Marcos commits to rail investment
PHILIPPINES: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr underlined his commitment to continuing and expanding the previous administration’s investment in rail during his first state of the nation address. ‘The infrastructure programme of the Duterte administration must not only continue but, wherever possible, be expanded’, he said. ‘We must ...
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NewsQueensland unveils Brisbane rail expansion strategy
AUSTRALIA: A pipeline of investment valued at more than A$20bn will support the long-term expansion of the southeast Queensland rail network under proposals published by the state government on August 2.
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NewsGauge conversion and new routes added to TEN-T revision proposal
EUROPE: The European Commission’s proposals to revise the TEN-T Regulation have been amended in the light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with routes to Ukraine and Moldova added, Russia and Belarus removed, and a requirement for 1 435 mm gauge on TEN-T routes added.