Railway policy news – Page 2
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NewsRussian and Chinese railways plan strategic co-operation
INTERNATIONAL: A strategic co-operation agreement was signed by Russian Railways Chairman Oleg Belozerov and his China Railway counterpart Liu Zhenfang when Russia’s President Putin visited China during May. The railways expressed mutual interest in the joint development of international transport corridors, in particular as part of ...
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News€1·7bn rail freight support scheme approved
GERMANY: A government scheme to provide grants to encourage modal shift of road freight to more sustainable rail transport has been approved by the European Commission under EU state aid rules. The scheme will provide direct grants totalling €1·7bn over five years to help rail operators ...
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NewsUS announces federal rules on certification of dispatchers and signalling employees
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration has announced two final rules that will require railways to develop certification and training programmes for dispatchers and people who install and maintain signalling systems. Unlike with train crews, there have previously been no federal regulations mandating specific training requirements, safety ...
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In depthFare Collection: Data sharing is key to a complex ticketing landscape
Evolving technologies and changing customer demands are driving change in fare collection, ticketing and payment systems, but railways are just one aspect of an increasingly complex multimodal transport ecosystem, suggests Toma Bačić.
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In depthComment: Rail policymakers' eyes on June's European elections
June’s European elections loomed large over the Connecting Europe Days in Brussels at the start of April, as EU policymakers and industry leaders discussed funding priorities for the next multi-annual framework and the future of the TEN-T network. Nick Kingsley shares his key takeaways.
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Rail Business UKOperator of last resort holds key to Labour’s rail renationalisation aspiration
UK: Rail Business UK has been speaking to industry leaders as they start to digest the rail policy proposals set out by the Labour Party ahead of the forthcoming general election.
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NewsChina applies to become associate member of OTIF
INTERNATIONAL: On April 26 the People’s Republic of China deposited an application to accede to the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail as an associate member. Unless five OTIF Member States object, the application will be deemed to be accepted three months after the first ...
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Rail Business UKMixed response to Labour rail proposals
UK: Organisations across the UK rail sector have broadly welcomed the reform proposals unveiled by Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh on April 25. Entitled ‘Getting Britain Moving’, the Labour Party policy committed to introducing new legislation to establish Great British Railways early in the next Parliamentary ...
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Rail Business UKWilliams Review author backs Labour plan to adopt Great British Railways reforms in full
UK: Sir Keith Williams has lent his backing to plans by the Labour Party to implement a standalone ‘guiding mind’ for the rail sector if it wins the upcoming General Election.
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In depthSpain: Plan de Cercanías promises an end to inaction
Over the past three decades, much of Spain’s rail investment has been channelled into its expanding high speed network. Government plans now envisage a substantial boost for suburban services which account for 90% of all ridership. Mike Bent investigates.
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NewsAs elections loom, rail advocates press for EU funding boost
EUROPE: Amid pressure on member states’ budgets and ongoing geopolitical instability, the rail sector used the Connecting Europe Days event in Brussels to urge EU policymakers to ensure investment is maintained in the next legislative period.
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NewsČD and RegioJet competition dispute settled
CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator ČD and Open access company RegioJet have agreed to end all legal proceedings relating to a dispute about competition on the Praha – Ostrava line Under the so-called Falcon Case, RegioJet had sought damages of up to KC717m, alleging that ČD had ...
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NewsMoldova applies to join OTIF
MOLDOVA: An application for accession to the Convention Concerning International Carriage by Rail has been submitted by Moldova. Unless five Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail member states object, the application will be deemed to be accepted three months after notification, which will be on ...
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In depthComment: Multilateral initiatives still matter
Globalisation is facing a challenge in the railway industry as countries prioritise domestic production of trains. Nick Kingsley explores the drawbacks of this approach and the continued importance of international co-operation.
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NewsAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes operating contract includes rolling stock renewals
FRANCE: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes région has signed a contract with SNCF Voyageurs to operate local passenger services from 2024 to 2033.
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NewsCRRC drops Bulgarian train bid following EU investigation
BULGARIA: CRRC Qingdao Sifang Locomotive has withdrawn its bid for a contract to supply 20 push-pull trainsets, after the European Commission launched an investigation into whether the Chinese state-owned company might have benefited from an unfair subsidy. The tender from the Ministry of Transport & Communications ...
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NewsSwiss parliament agrees more long-term rail projects
SWITZERLAND: Parliament has approved a number of key changes to the national railway long-term investment programmes known as Ausbauschritte 2025 and 2035. The changes add around SFr3bn to the cost, taking the total to SFr23bn.
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NewsAccess to EU funding unlocks major investment in Polish rolling stock
Koleje Dolnośląskie has received 333·7m złoty in co-financing from the European Union’s Recovery & Resilience Fund which it is using to refinance its Pesa Elf2 EMUs now being delivered. POLAND: The national government’s Centre for EU Transport Projects agency has allocated co-financing from the European Union’s ...
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NewsTurkish elections bring rail plan announcements
TURKEY: Plans to develop inter-city and suburban rail lines have been announced by the government ahead of municipal elections on March 31. Speaking in the Black Sea port of Samsun on February 28, Minister of Transport & Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said the government would push ahead ...
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NewsFurther concerns raised about Dutch train operating contract
Source: NS NETHERLANDS: The European Commission has sent a further letter of formal notice to the Netherlands, expressing concerns about the direct award of a contract for state-owned incumbent Nederlandse Spoorwegen to operate services on the designated core passenger network between January 1 2025 and December ...