Railway policy news – Page 13
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NewsDB warned over market abuse in digital mobility platforms
GERMANY: The Federal Monopolies Commission has reached a preliminary conclusion that Deutsche Bahn has committed ‘an abuse of market power’ in relation to digital mobility platforms designed to offer passengers integrated route planning and ticket purchasing. Announcing this on April 20, the Commission said that it ...
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In depthInterview: Iryo targets a 30% share
Ahead of the launch of its Iryo-branded high speed service in Spain later this year, we ask ILSA Chief Executive Simone Gorini to outline his vision for the Trenitalia-backed entrant to the high speed market.
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NewsSmartRail Europe brings industry leaders to Roma
ITALY: Industry leaders will gather at SmartRail Europe in Roma in June to learn about the latest innovations and challenges facing the rail sector across the continent.
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NewsTwo options to develop wagonload freight
SWITZERLAND: Two options to determine the future of the wagonload freight business are to be analysed further with a view to the government setting the direction of future policy later this year. Rail currently handles about 25% of all freight traffic in Switzerland, but it has ...
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In depthCybersecurity: Intrusion detection to protect the digital railway
Increasing reliance on digital technologies has made railways more vulnerable to cyber attacks. Intrusion Detection Systems can help to protect new and existing infrastructure and ensure availability.
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NewsEU accelerates funding for military transport projects
EUROPE: The European Commission has brought forward the awarding of EU grants to co-fund projects to support military mobility, explaining that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased the urgency of making Europe’s transport infrastructure fit for dual civilian and defence use. The first Military Mobility ...
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NewsSouth African rail network to be opened to third party freight operators
SOUTH AFRICA: State railway and port company Transnet has invited expressions of interest in buying train paths on two key freight corridors as a pilot scheme for wider rail reform. Opening up access to the rail network forms part of a reform process set out in a ...
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NewsThree key issues for rail freight in EU state aid reform
EUROPE: The European Rail Freight Association says three key issues need to be addressed in the European Commission’s planned revision of state aid guidelines for railway undertakings. Modal shift: ERFA believes state aid has an important role to play in supporting a transition towards more sustainable ...
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NewsUkraine to nationalise Russian-owned rolling stock
UKRAINE: National railway Ukrzaliznytsia has begun the process of nationalising Russian-owned rolling stock in the country. The announcement came after the President of Ukraine signed a law setting out principles for the seizure of Russian property following the invasion. Ukrzaliznytsia is drawing up a list of ...
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NewsInternational rail organisations say ‘sovereignty, self-determination, independence and territorial integrity’ must be respected
UKRAINE: ‘We are firmly against the use of railways in armed conflicts’, the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail and the Organisation for Co‑Operation Between Railways said in a joint statement issued on March 21; it did not specifically mention Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ...
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NewsMore French inter-city services in prospect as tendering relaunched
FRANCE: A 20% increase in ridership on conventional inter-city services or Trains d’Equilibre du Territoire over the next decade is envisaged in a new operating contract between the government and SNCF Voyageurs which was signed in Paris on March 17.
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NewsEuropean railways co-ordinate efforts to support Ukrainians
EUROPE: Railways are playing a key role in the flow of refugees out of Ukraine and the supply of aid into the country since it was invaded by Russia, and the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies says it is working closely with its members ...
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NewsTurkey – Bulgaria reconstruction contract halted
TURKEY: The country’s highest administrative court has cancelled the contract awarded in June last year for reconstruction of TCDD’s main line between Ispartaküle and Halkalı, which forms the southern section of the Turkey’s principal rail link with western Europe.
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NewsAustralian report recommends measures to promote rail freight
AUSTRALIA: The Australasian Railway Association has released a report which states how government and industry can support greater use of rail freight.
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NewsSpain to create single transport accident investigation body
SPAIN: The government is currently drafting legislation to establish a single transport accident investigation body, combining the responsibilities of the three commissions currently in charge of investigating maritime, civil aviation and railway accidents.
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NewsPolish industry calls for ’full and complete’ sanctions on Russian and Belarusian railways
EUROPE: Representatives of the Polish railway industry have issued a joint call for the European Commission to impose ‘full and complete’ sanctions on the Russian and Belarusian railways because of their logistical role in the invasion of Ukraine. The statement issued on March 3 is signed by ...
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NewsState aid for Italy’s long-distance train operators approved
ITALY: The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules a €687m Italian government package intended to compensate operators of commercial long-distance passenger rail services for the impact of the coronavirus pandemic over the period between July 1 2020 and April 3 2021. The decision ...
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NewsEuropean Year of Rail raised awareness of sustainability credentials
EUROPE: ‘2021 was an extremely challenging year for railways’, European rail industry bodies said in a joint message marking the formal end of the European Year of Rail. ‘The Covid-19 pandemic hit the sector hard, and its impact is still felt today with more than €50bn ...
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NewsPolish operators call for track access charge cut to stem loss of market share
POLAND: The ZNPK federation of independent train operators has called for a ‘serious debate’ on access charges and a ‘radical’ 50% cut in fees, saying infrastructure manager PKP PLK’s current charges for freight trains are amongst the highest in Europe. ZNPK says that PKP PLK’s draft ...
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NewsEU pandemic relief measure for rail extended
EUROPE: Members of the European Parliament have voted to extend a Covid-19 relief measure that allows rail infrastructure access charges to be reduced, waived or deferred.