Railway policy news – Page 7
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In depthFrance: Start-ups energise the passenger market
Open access passenger operators have so far had limited success in penetrating the French market, but a medley of ambitious entrepreneurs is now tackling the task. Jérémie Anne reports.
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Rail Business UKRail reform will enhance the role of the private sector, says Harper
UK: Private sector train operators will have a key role to play in the reformed rail structure, Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper told industry leaders on February 7. Presenting the annual George Bradshaw Address hosted by industry association Rail Partners, Harper sought to set ...
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NewsConfusion over clearances delays narrow gauge train delivery
SPAIN: The production of multiple-units for use on metre-gauge lines in northern Spain has been delayed by confusion about infrastructure clearances on the routes and legal technicalities around the design of new rolling stock. On January 23 Euskotren unveiled the first of four Class 940 electric ...
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NewsAmsterdam – Barcelona night train plan
EUROPE: Night train start-up European Sleeper has announced details of its proposed Amsterdam – Barcelona service, which has won the backing of the European Commission. The night train is one of 10 proposals selected for a pilot programme which aims to break down practical barriers to ...
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NewsMinister promises ‘boldest railway programme’ in logistics modernisation drive
BRAZIL: The government of recently-elected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vowed to continue the previous administration’s policy of investing in rail projects and has proposed to establish a national rail secretariat. In a meeting last month with President of the National Transport Confederation Vander ...
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NewsMore rolling stock needed to support passenger market growth, say European associations
EUROPE: The Association of European Rail Rolling Stock Lessors and the AllRail association of independent operators have met to discuss the provision of vehicles to facilitate the launch of new passenger services. Rolling stock availability has provided a stumbling block to ambitions to launch new open ...
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In depthComment: Stations really matter
The opening on January 25 of Long Island Rail Road’s deep-level hub at Grand Central Madison in New York encapsulates the challenges facing station developers, who must balance urban regeneration objectives with operational improvements to rail services. This is no simple task, argues our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsIndian Railways funding boosted to record levels
INDIA: The government will increase funding for the national railway network to its highest ever level in 2023-24 in order to support further capital investment, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Presenting the national budget for the financial year from April 1 to parliament on February ...
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NewsBaltic States discuss Vilnius – Riga – Tallinn passenger service and gauge conversion
EUROPE: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are to explore options to launch a passenger service between their capitals using existing 1 520 mm gauge railways, ahead of the completion of the future Rail Baltica 1 435 mm gauge line. The lack of through services between the Baltic ...
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In depthPortugal: National plan to boost rail’s market share
Ambitious plans to connect Portugal’s 10 largest cities by high speed rail form the centrepiece of a comprehensive railway development package unveiled by the Portuguese government late last year. To be completed by 2050, the plan also envisages new suburban corridors and a third bridge over the River Tagus. André Pires reports.
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In depthEurope: Authorising modifications — time to learn from experience
Practical experience suggests that changes to the vehicle authorisation process introduced in the EU’s Fourth Railway Package have clarified the requirements covering the approval of modifications to existing rolling stock deployed in more than one country.
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NewsThree Seas high speed network proposed to link Warszawa with Tallinn, Budapest, Praha and Kyiv
EUROPE: Memoranda of understanding for co-operation on the development of new and enhanced rail links between capital cities in central and eastern Europe, including Kyiv, were signed at the Railway Direction Days 2023 conference in Warszawa.
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NewsStudy proposes massive expansion of Europe’s high speed rail network
EUROPE: A master plan for massive expansion of the high speed rail network has been proposed by the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking in co-operation with the Community of European Railways, supply industry association UNIFE and the AllRail association of new entrants to the passenger market. Unveiled ...
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In depthSoutheast Asia: Rising costs force ASEAN nations to redefine Belt & Road projects
Ballooning costs and imprecise contract terms have led to significant changes to major projects and in some cases to renegotiation of terms. Toma Bačić investigates schemes in three ASEAN countries.
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NewsEuropean Commission investigates state aid to Fret SNCF
FRANCE: The European Commission has begun a detailed investigation into measures taken by the French government in 2007-19 to provide financial support to Fret SNCF, the rail freight subsidiary of Rail Logistics Europe, itself a subsidiary of national operator SNCF. The objective is to determine whether ...
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NewsRENFE starts tests before relaunching cross-border high speed services to France
EUROPE: Spanish national operator RENFE is preparing to revive international inter-city services between Madrid, Barcelona, Lyon and Marseille, which ceased in December last year.
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News‘The future is ours’, Rail Ambassadors tell Dutch minister
NETHERLANDS: A delegation of young rail ambassadors has presented a report to Environment & Water Management Secretary Vivianne Heijnen outlining their experience of being part of the EU’s European Year of Youth.
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In depthComment: Productivity not exploitation
Poor working conditions risk impacting on railways’ ability to recruit the people they need to be competitive for the future, argues Railway Gazette’s Senior Editor Chris Jackson.
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NewsRemove technical barriers to cut journey times across European borders, urges ERA
EUROPE: Many cross-border rail routes function like a patchwork of different national systems, and there is an opportunity to reduce journey times by solving technical and operational issues, according to a report from the European Union Agency for Railways. The Cross-border Rail Transport Potential Report looks ...
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In depthGreece: Rail revival struggles to gain momentum
Despite a macroeconomic recovery and an injection of EU funding for infrastructure, Greece’s rail recovery is still facing headwinds, typified by the low-key launch of Pendolino services between the country’s two principal cities. Toma Bačić reports from Athens.