Railway policy news – Page 8
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News
Ukraine withdraws from CIS Railway Council
UKRAINE: Ukraine has withdrawn from the CIS Railway Council, which was established in 1992 to facilitate continued interoperability between the railways across the former Soviet Union. National railway Ukrzaliznytsia cut all ties with Russia and Belarus following the full-scale invasion on February 24. The military removed ...
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Aix-Marseille-Provence city region invests in local freight
FRANCE: The Aix-Marseille-Provence Métropole is to invest significant funds in local rail freight services and terminals over the next four years, as part of a strategy to reduce road congestion and associated pollution across the metropolitan area.
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Legislation passed to avert US rail strike
USA: The House and Senate have passed legislation to avert a major strike by forcing railway companies and trades unions to implement tentative agreements negotiated by a Presidential Emergency Board, which four unions had not ratified. ‘I know that many in Congress shared my reluctance to ...
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In depth
Comment: Transport back on the climate agenda
The recent COP27 climate summit in Egypt received a broadly underwhelming response, but for the rail and public transport sectors at least, there were signs of hope that the mobility transition is edging back on to the global climate agenda after being largely absent at COP26 in Glasgow last year.
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DB Netz and DB Station&Service become InfraGO
GERMANY: The federal government is planning to complete the merger of DB Netz AG and DB Station&Service AG by January 1 2024, when the merged business will become known as InfraGO. More details of the government’s plans for restructuring the two Deutsche Bahn businesses emerged on ...
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In depth
Asia: ESCAP rethinks trans-continental supply chains
Covid-19 and the Ukrainian crisis have impacted on Eurasian rail flows, but ESCAP believes railways still have a key role to play in an integrated multimodal transport system supporting global supply chains. Raghu Dayal reports.
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In depth
Interview: Rail can address Europe’s societal challenges
From tensions with Russia to the climate emergency, rail has a role to play at the heart of Europe’s response to the biggest questions of the age, believes CER Executive Director Alberto Mazzola. But he tells Nick Kingsley that more investment is needed to boost both capacity and capability.
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Norwegian ERTMS programme delayed
NORWAY: Citing global supply problems and delays to the retrofitting of trains, Bane Nor has postponed the planned launch of ERTMS on its first lines.
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Electric transport support approved
CZECH REPUBLIC: The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules a scheme to promote the use of electric transport as a greener alternative to diesel vehicles, and to support a shift of freight and passenger traffic from road to rail. Under the €180m scheme ...
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In depth
Israel: ISR expansion ramps up again
Israel Railways has embarked on an ambitious strategy to double the size of its network, as it seeks to cope with a projected quadrupling of demand by 2030. CEO Michael Maixner explains his priorities to Chris Jackson.
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Support scheme aims to make Belgium an international night train hub
BELGIUM: The Council of Ministers has approved a draft law which aims to encourage the operation of attractively priced international night trains by offering reductions in infrastructure access charges and energy costs. The high loadings on the thrice-weekly Nightjet service between Brussels and Wien show the ...
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Consortium to develop low-cost operations to revive France’s local lines
FRANCE: Thales is part of a consortium of companies and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region seeking to reduce the cost of running trains on lightly-used rural lines.
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Lobito Corridor concession deal signed
ANGOLA: The Ministry of Transport has signed a concession agreement covering operation and maintenance of the Lobito Corridor for the next 30 years.
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Dutch battery-electric train initiative halted
NETHERLANDS: The northeastern province of Overijssel has frozen its plans for deploying battery-electric trains on non-electrified routes from 2027.
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Funding deal clears the way for Germany’s €49 monthly ticket
GERMANY: The federal government reached agreement with the Länder on November 2 to fund a nationwide monthly public transport ticket priced at €49, with January 1 2023 being set as the target launch date.
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Infra SA to manage long-term planning
BRAZIL: Major infrastructure projects will in future be managed by Infra SA, a public company formed by the merger of state-owned railway business Valec with Empresa de Planejamento e Logística SA.
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SNCF fined over Brétigny derailment
FRANCE: A court has found national operator SNCF guilty of homicide and involuntary injury following the derailment on July 12 2013 of a Paris Austerlitz – Limoges locomotive-hauled Intercités service.
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ANTT signs off five more railway construction projects
BRAZIL: The Ministry of Infrastructure and the National Land Transport Agency have authorised five more projects authorising private sector companies to build new railways in three states totalling more than 1 000 route-km.
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Standard gauge to Ukraine and Moldova could benefit the whole world, says EIB
EUROPE: The European Investment Bank has begun a pre-feasibility study looking at the development of standard gauge cross-border links to connect the Ukrainian and Moldovan rail networks with the Trans-European Transport Network.
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Bolsonaro backs private rail investment
BRAZIL: Outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro has approved changes to railway legislation aimed at encouraging greater private sector investment in new railway projects.