Railway policy news

  • First-train-after-Sandy---Montague-Tunnel-en-route-to-Whitehall-St
    In depth

    Infrastructure: Developing a rail resilience framework

    2024-08-12T11:09:00Z

    Arup has developed a policy document aimed at helping the rail sector to reframe its approach to climate resilience by embracing ‘whole-system’ thinking. Co-author Juliet Mian explains to Nick Kingsley.

  • Trains at Brussels
    News

    Report identifies European missing links where rail could compete with air

    2024-07-30T09:00:00Z

    EUROPE: Environmental campaigning organisation Greenpeace has produced a comprehensive study of rail services between major European cities, highlighting the ‘untapped potential’ for new direct trains which could replace flights. The Connection Failed report looks at 990 routes between 45 cities. It says only 13% of the ...

  • Santiago de Compostela derailment
    News

    Train driver and head of safety convicted over Santiago de Compostela derailment

    2024-07-30T05:00:00Z

    SPAIN: It was ‘incomprehensible’ that a high speed line equipped with ERTMS would not have it installed at a location where a speed restriction meant it was so obviously required, the judge said when a criminal court reached its verdict on the July 24 2013 derailment of a Class 730 Alvia train.

  • Horizontal Timetable (Image CPK)
    News

    Clockface timetable planned to support Polish passenger rail tendering

    2024-07-29T11:00:00Z

    POLAND: Transport planners are seeking feedback from international train operators on regulations for public service obligation and commercial contracts, capacity allocation and train timetabling, to help inform plans for the liberalisation of the Polish long-distance passenger rail sector. A consultation to be launched shortly will feed ...

  • California high speed rail project train impression
    News

    Agreement to cut Californian rail project red tape

    2024-07-26T15:00:00Z

    USA: The California State Transportation Agency and California High-Speed Rail Authority have renewed a 2019 agreement under which the state has taken on the Federal Railroad Administration’s environmental review responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act. California is the only state with NEPA assignment for rail ...

  • 20230330_708565
    In depth

    Kazakhstan: Transit freight drives KTZ expansion

    2024-07-19T06:00:00Z

    New line construction and fleet renewals have cemented Kazakhstan’s position as a key node in the Eurasian transit market. Further expansion is now in hand, with more investment planned by 2030, reports Vladimir Waldin.

  • Rail Baltica train concept
    News

    Porto – Lisboa high speed project and Rail Baltica lead latest Connecting Europe Facility grant allocations

    2024-07-18T11:50:00Z

    EUROPE: Rail projects are to receive 80% of the €7bn of Connecting Europe Facility co-financing grant funding announced by the European Commission on July 17. Schemes covered include Rail Baltica, the Lyon – Torino and Brenner tunnel corridors, numerous ERTMS deployments and work to better integrate ...

  • Palace of Westminster clock tower
    Rail Business UK

    Nationalisation, Great British Railways and devolution plans included in King’s Speech

    2024-07-17T13:32:00Z

    UK: A package of rail reforms including taking the remaining private train operators into state ownership was unveiled at the state opening of parliament on July 17.

  • Digital automatic coupler (Photo: DB Cargo)
    News

    Rail freight associations raise ‘serious concerns’ about digital automatic couplers

    2024-07-09T11:00:00Z

    EUROPE: ‘Serious concerns’ about the competitive, economic, technical and operational impact of deploying digital automatic couplers have been set out by associations representing private freight operators in central and eastern Europe. They say DAC offers numerous benefits, but ‘hasty and arbitrary solutions could further hamper the ...

  • Palace of Westminster clock tower
    Rail Business UK

    Rail sector responds to Labour general election win

    2024-07-05T15:39:00Z

    UK: Organisations from across the rail sector have responded to the outcome of the July 4 general election, which saw a landslide victory for the opposition Labour over the previous Conservative government.

  • ChMASSE-FretPicture2024_1__WEB
    In depth

    France: Fret SNCF faces an uncertain future

    2024-07-05T06:00:00Z

    Christian Scasso assesses the changes that are set to transform France’s nationalised rail freight operations in 2025.

  • CPK station impression
    News

    Poland recommits to CPK high speed rail programme

    2024-07-03T10:00:00Z

    POLAND: Prime Minister Donald Tusk has recommitted his government to implementing the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny high speed rail and airport programme. When the current government came to power at the end of last year it quickly initiated a review of the previous administration’s plans for the ...

  • br-mrslogistica-final_SD70Ace
    News

    Parliamentary body to support Brazil’s railway industry

    2024-06-29T07:19:00Z

    BRAZIL: A political lobby group has been set up to put the case for rail within the country’s political institutions.

  • no-flytoget-airport-201723-671
    News

    Flytoget eyes an open access future

    2024-06-27T09:00:00Z

    NORWAY: Airport express operator Flytoget has applied to the national railway authority Statens Jernbanetilsyn to launch open access passenger services on the Sørlandsbanen between Oslo and Kristiansand from December 2027.

  • fr freight train (Christophe Masse) (1)
    News

    EU state aid rule changes aim to simplify support for sustainable transport

    2024-06-21T10:15:00Z

    EUROPE: The European Commission has begun public consultation on draft guidelines which are designed to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date set of rules for the granting of state aid for rail and other sustainable land transport modes. The Land & Multimodal Transport Guidelines would replace the ...

  • California high speed rail project train impression
    News

    How to launch a US high speed rail project

    2024-06-17T15:00:00Z

    USA: The US High Speed Rail Association has published a ‘first-of-its-kind action plan’ designed to equip advocates with practical tips, realistic expectations and strategic support as they work to launch new projects for 300+ km/h railways. High-Speed Rail Project Initiation: A Roadmap for Advocates focuses on ...

  • 1-PRASA-train-Cape-Town-Fish-Hoek-Line-image-Benjámin-Zelki
    In depth

    Interview: ‘The commuter experience will be back to its best’

    2024-06-11T07:00:00Z

    South Africa’s Railway Safety Regulator is tasked with overseeing safe and secure rail services on a network ravaged by vandalism and asset theft over recent years. RSR is also implementing the government’s plan to open up the Transnet network to new entrants. Acting CEO Mmuso Selaledi explains the scale of the challenge to Benjámin Zelki.

  • 1 Prague East_Terminal photo SŽ 2
    In depth

    Czech Republic: Ostrava link leads revised core network plan

    2024-06-05T07:00:00Z

    With limited progress being made on the planned new line between Praha and Dresden, Czech infrastructure manager Správa Železnic is taking forward an initial section of high speed line in the east as part of plans to develop a 400 route-km high-performance backbone. SŽ’s Deputy Director for High Speed Lines Jiří Merta explains the state of progress to Benjámin Zelki.

  • Midnight Trains
    News

    Midnight Trains drops plans for hotel quality sleeper train network

    2024-06-04T14:15:00Z

    FRANCE: Start-up Midnight Trains has abandoned its ambitious plan to develop a network of premium overnight trains offering hotel-standard accommodation on European routes of up to 1 500 km from Paris, after being unable to raise the necessary funding. Co-founder Adrien Aumont said the rail sector’s ...

  • TBM-blessing-ceremony-of-Elizabeth,-now-digging-the-second-bore-of-HS2’s-Bromford-Tunnel
    Rail Business UK

    High Speed: Birmingham prepares to welcome truncated HS2

    2024-06-01T07:13:00Z

    Viaducts, depot sites and tunnels are taking shape at the Birmingham end of the 225 km High Speed 2 route. But doubts over completion of what was Phase I of the curtailed scheme continue to swirl. Nick Kingsley reports from Washwood Heath.