Railway policy news – Page 10
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In depthAsia: 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 depthInterview: 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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NewsNorwegian 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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NewsElectric 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 depthIsrael: 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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NewsSupport 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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NewsConsortium 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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NewsLobito 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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NewsDutch 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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NewsFunding 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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NewsInfra 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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NewsSNCF 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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NewsANTT 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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NewsStandard 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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NewsBolsonaro 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.
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NewsAustralian National Rail Manufacturing Plan funded
AUSTRALIA: The 2022-23 federal budget includes A$14·2m over four years to establish a National Rail Manufacturing Plan ‘to ensure more trains are built in Australia, support skilled manufacturing and expand the local rail industry’. An Office of National Rail Industry Co-ordination will be formed within the ...
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NewsJoint vision for international rail capacity management
EUROPE: A common vision for capacity management, process harmonisation and IT support to create a ‘European, digital, flexible and secure’ system enabling train operators to book capacity in line with their business models and customer needs has been set out by three industry associations. Forum Train ...
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Rail Business UKRail reform legislation delay confirmed
UK: Delays to the legislation needed to enact reform of the rail sector including the creation of Great British Railways have been confirmed.
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NewsEuropean Commission closes ČD pricing investigation
CZECH REPUBLIC: The European Commission has closed its investigation into alleged predatory conduct by national passenger operator ČD, after concluding that the evidence did not confirm its initial concerns. On November 10 2016, the European Commission opened an investigation to assess whether ČD had charged prices ...
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In depthEastern Europe: War and supply chain turmoil put rail growth at risk
A deal which closed in January to create a joint venture with Slovenia’s state railway to run the SŽ-Tovorni Promet freight business is the latest in a series of expansionist moves by Czech private operator EP Logistics International. But future growth is under threat as the market outlook worsens, Executive Director Zbigniew Klepacki explains to Nick Kingsley.