Railway policy news – Page 9
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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.
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News$9bn to fund Northeast Corridor upgrading
USA: The Department of Transportation is making available nearly $9bn in funding to support infrastructure renewals and expand passenger services along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor
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In depthAustralia: Reshaping Brisbane’s rail connections
With construction of the Cross River Rail link well underway, Queensland’s state government has unveiled a comprehensive strategy for development of Brisbane’s regional rail network to accommodate projected population growth. Chris Jackson explores the proposals.
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NewsShort line natural disaster recovery funding bill introduced
USA: A bill has been introduced to Congress which would authorise the Department of Transportation to provide emergency funding to assist short line railways with recovery from natural disasters.
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Rail Business UKRail leaders frustrated as DfT tightens grip and cuts loom
UK: Rail Business UK has taken soundings from across the train operating companies, Network Rail and from sources close to the Department for Transport, finding a bleak outlook. Industry leaders fear having to implement stark cuts to rail provision, even if the industrial relations issues plaguing the sector can be resolved.
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NewsFreight future in doubt as energy costs soar
FRANCE: Rail freight operators are facing a catastrophic future if the government does not offer help with a massive rise in energy costs, according to industry body Fret Ferroviaire Français du Futur.
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In depthIndia: On the way to a sustainable railway
As well as its traction decarbonisation strategy, Indian Railways has launched a raft of initiatives aimed at improving its wider environmental credentials. Raghu Dayal investigates.
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NewsUkraine 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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NewsAix-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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NewsLegislation 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 depthComment: 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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NewsDB 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 ...