Railway policy news – Page 16
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NewsCo-operative model underpins Railcoop’s long term plans
FRANCE: The Grand Est regional government has contributed €500 000 to open access operator Railcoop through its co-operative business model, becoming the latest institutional member to support the start-up.
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NewsPerpignan – Rungis fruit and veg express reinstated
Photo: Fret SNCF/JC Milhet FRANCE: Prime Minister Jean Castex, Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari and SNCF President Jean-Pierre Farandou formally relaunched the Perpignan – Rungis overnight express freight service on October 22. The seasonal service that carried fresh fruit and vegetables from southwest ...
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NewsNorway to increase rail spend but end competitive tendering
NORWAY: The recently elected Norwegian government intends to pursue an aggressive policy of investing in rail, with a view to driving modal shift, but plans to end the competitive tendering of passenger train operations and to simplify the structure of the country’s rail sector.
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In depthGermany: Regional rail model called into question
Problems at Keolis and Abellio suggest that Germany’s long-standing model for contracting out the operation of regional and local rail services may no longer be fit for purpose. Murray Hughes investigates.
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In depthDenmark: Getting the passengers back
With a substantial investment strategy in place and negotiations for a new operating contract underway, Denmark’s state passenger operator is positioning itself to drive modal shift in a post-Covid recovery, DSB Chief Executive Flemming Jensen tells Chris Jackson.
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NewsTransnet to seek private operator for reopened link
SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet Freight Rail is to invite bids for a concession to operate the 200 km Cookhouse – Blaney line in Eastern Cape, which was reopened for regular traffic on October 7.
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NewsCross-border high speed corridor proposed in northern Portugal
PORTUGAL: As part of the work feeding into the country’s upcoming National Railway Plan, the Vale d’Ouro Association has put forward proposals for a new line through the Trás-os-Montes region to link Porto with Zamora in Spain.
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NewsVision for a seamless European rail passenger ticketing experience
EUROPE: A position paper setting out a long-term ‘political vision’ for the seamless planning and booking of international rail journeys has been published by the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies. However, independent passenger operators are disappointed at the lack of firm commitments.
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NewsConnecting Europe Express tour concludes in Paris
EUROPE: The Connecting Europe Express organised by the European Commission’s transport directorate DG Move and trade association CER concluded its 36-day tour of the continent in Paris on October 7.
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In depthComment: Look forward not back
As the Connecting Europe Express completes its tour of the continent in Paris on October 7, the rail industry must use the momentum generated by the EU’s Year of Rail to develop a competitive sector which is able to attract a new generation of users and staff, argues our Editor-in-Chief Chris Jackson.
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NewsEurostar brand to remain after Thalys merger
EUROPE: European high speed operators Eurostar and Thalys confirmed on October 4 that their planned merger announced in September 2019 is on course to be completed ‘within two to three years’, with a formal submission to the European Commission’s competition authority expected in 2022. Being taken ...
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NewsImpact of the pandemic on rail remains ‘dire’, says CER
EUROPE: The September update of the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies’ Covid Impact Tracker shows signs of improvement for passenger train services, but none for freight and a worsening of the financial situation for infrastructure managers.
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NewsRailcoop awarded operating licence
FRANCE: Open access operator Railcoop has been granted an operating licence to run both passenger and freight trains, marking another step in the not-for-profit co-operative’s journey towards regular day-to-day operations.
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NewsGhana Railway Development Authority board appointed
GHANA: Deputy Minister for Railway Development Kwaku Asante-Boateng has inaugurated a newly board of directors at the Ghana Railway Development Authority. GRDA was formed following the Railway Act 2008 to advise the government on railway matters, create a regulatory framework with opportunities for private sector participation, ...
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NewsDAC programme selects Scharfenberg digital coupler
EUROPE: Following extensive testing with various prototypes, a Scharfenberg latch design has been selected as the basis for the future European Digital Automatic Coupler. Meeting on September 21, the supervisory board of the European DAC Delivery Programme adopted a recommendation from the ...
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NewsMacron puts high speed projects back on track in ‘decade of the TGV’
FRANCE: In a speech at Paris Gare de Lyon during an event held on September 17 to mark 40 years since the launch of TGV services, President Emmanuel Macron announced the revival of plans to expand the high speed network, describing the 2020s as ‘the decade of the TGV’.
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NewsConnecting Europe Express puts spotlight on Western Balkan rail vision
EUROPE: Welcoming the EU’s Connecting Europe Express to Beograd Centar on September 13, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić announced that her country’s rail investment programme would be worth up to €6bn and focus on ‘reconnecting’ the Western Balkan countries’ fragmented networks.
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NewsKCS cements CP merger as CN agrees early termination
NORTH AMERICA: Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern confirmed on September 15 that they had entered into a definitive merger agreement, valuing the smaller railroad at approximately US$31bn.
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NewsFunds confirmed to support rail freight relaunch strategy
FRANCE: Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari has affirmed that the government will provide €170m a year to support the rail freight sector until 2024 as part of a National Rail Freight Development Strategy.
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NewsJR Central targets Shinkansen business travellers with work-oriented offering
JAPAN: Central Japan Railway Company is to revamp its offering for business travellers using Tokaido Shinkansen services, in response to changing travel patterns and working practices driven by the coronavirus pandemic.