Railway policy news – Page 7
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NewsEuropean Commission investigates possible anticompetitive practices in online rail ticketing
SPAIN: The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to assess whether national incumbent RENFE may have abused its dominant position in the passenger rail market by refusing to supply all ticketing information and real-time data to rival retailing platforms. RENFE sells tickets offline and online ...
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NewsConverting Finland’s rail network to standard gauge is not financially viable, study finds
FINLAND: A study has concluded that converting the 1 524 mm broad gauge national railway network to the European standard of 1 435 mm would not be financially viable. Recognising that regauging would facilitate international passenger and freight traffic and could simplify rolling stock procurement, the ...
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NewsANTT prepares to relet Malha Oeste concession
BRAZIL: ANTT has launched the process to relet the Malha Oeste operating concession, which is currently held by Rumo Logística.
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NewsAmtrak backs New York – Scranton passenger revival
USA: Amtrak has unveiled proposals for the restoration of inter-city passenger trains between New York and Scranton.
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NewsRail improvements should be central to TEN-T revision, MEPs say
EUROPE: Major EU transport infrastructure projects should focus on sustainable transport, avoid delays, improve links with Ukraine and Moldova and make provision for military transport, according to the European Parliament’s Transport & Tourism Committee. On April 13, the TRAN Committee formally adopted its position on the ...
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In depthMontenegro: EU funding is key to rehabilitation
Montenegro’s small network has seen only intermittent investment in recent years, and the poor state of the strategically vital main line between Bar and Beograd is an ongoing concern. Putting the country on the TEN-T map is now a priority for policymakers, as Toma Bačić explains.
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NewsSouth Australia to take back Adelaide suburban operations
AUSTRALIA: Keolis Downer has reached agreement with the state government of South Australia to hand back the operation of the Adelaide suburban rail network progressively from January 2025.
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NewsGerman government promises more rail funding
GERMANY: The coalition government has reached agreement on a package of transport and climate protection-related reforms that includes streamlining the planning process for road and rail projects. After three days of debate, on March 28 the leaders of the Social Democrat, Green and Free Democrat parties, ...
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NewsAudit Office warns of ‘chronic crisis’ at Deutsche Bahn
GERMANY: The Federal Audit Office has strongly criticised Deutsche Bahn and the federal government for failing to deal with the national railway’s ‘permanent crisis’, its ongoing financial failings and its inability to cope with operational problems. In a 33-page report published on March 15, the Office ...
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In depthSweden: Investment volte-face exposes fragility of EU rail vision
The decision last December by the incoming Swedish government to scale back radically the national high speed rail programme and remove the routes from the pan-European TEN-T network has raised profound questions about the country’s commitment to EU rail ambitions, as Nick Kingsley explains.
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In depthEuropean Policy: Making the case for cross-border rail
As part of the vision for a Single European Railway Area, a coalition of member states and European institutions is pushing to revitalise and expand cross-border passenger services as a key element in driving modal shift to rail and decarbonising the EU transport sector. Chris Jackson investigates.
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NewsGoiás seeks private investors in rail schemes
BRAZIL: Goinfra, the agency responsible for infrastructure and transport within the state of Goiás, has put forward legislation designed to facilitate the construction of rail projects by private sector companies. The draft bill was unveiled at a workshop on railways held on March 8 in Goiânia ...
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In depthComment: Greek train crash highlights a tragic system failure
A horrific head-on collision at Evangelismos on the Athens – Thessaloniki main line raises many questions about investment in railway safety and the human factors implications facing front-line employees.
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Rail Business UKDerby selected as Great British Railways headquarters
UK: Derby has been selected to host the national headquarters of Great British Railways, with the Department for Transport saying it had come top in both the assessment process and the public vote. There were 42 expressions of interest in being the home of GBR, and ...
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NewsKururi Line closure plan fuels fears for Japan’s rural railways
JAPAN: East Japan Railway has confirmed that it is to launch consultations for the partial closure of the 32·2 km Kururi Line east of Tokyo.
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NewsSTB approves Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern merger with conditions
NORTH AMERICA: The US Surface Transportation Board has approved the application from Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern to merge their two railways.
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In depthCompetition and co-operation in the spotlight as high speed rail sector recovers from Covid
With many railways seeing a rapid return in traffic post-Covid, the latest UIC World Congress on High Speed Rail in Marrakech on March 8-11 focused on questions of on-rail competition and co-operation with aviation. Benjámin Zelki reports from Morocco.
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In depthHigh Speed: Keeping track of new line costs
Bane Nor and Civity have conducted econometric research into the factors influencing how far high speed rail project costs can be kept under control, with a view to learning lessons for future major rail schemes in Norway and elsewhere.
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In depthPoland: Airport scheme catalyses high speed network plan
Government plans to build a central airport and make it the hub of a revamped passenger network for Poland will require the construction of 1 981 km of new lines, almost half of which will be dedicated high speed corridors. Work on the Warszawa – Łódź route is due to start next year. Benjámin Zelki reports.
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In depthComment: Money alone is not enough
The Indian government is pouring money into rail investment in record quantities, but cash alone will not be enough to ensure that policymakers’ ambitious aims for railway development are achieved.