Deutsche Bahn forms much-debated support pact with state
The German government, Deutsche Bahn and a railway union have agreed to cooperate in order to support the rail freight industry. The partners announced an “Alliance for our Railway”. (more…)Read more
UK slipping behind EU on decarbonising freight
Transport policy in the UK is not moving fast enough to keep up with decarbonisation planning in the EU, says the Rail Freight Group. There are fears that inaction could put rail freight and the...Read more
‘Place railways at the heart of the recovery of European mobility’
The Polish railway undertaking PKP SA has appealed the European Commission to support railway investments that will effectively help stimulate the EU economic recovery plan. CEO Krzysztof Mamiński called for special priority for railway support...Read moreGermany allocates 102 million euros for rail freight
A German funding scheme for the rail freight industry has been opened. The federal government allocates 30 million euros per year until 31 December 2024 to make the industry more future-proof. The federal programme, which...Read more
Plans for rail freight interchange in Yorkshire rejected
Rail freight developers in the north of England have been told to think again. Plans for a new strategic rail freight interchange in Yorkshire have been rejected on appeal. Promoters Harworth Group PLC had hoped...Read more
Paper documents not necessarily needed right now
As a result of COVID-19’s impact on the railway industry, some railway companies are confronted with challenges in preparing and collecting paper-based documents required for customs procedures. If needed, electronic documents could temporarily be accepted,...Read more
Rail operators fear high railway rates in the Netherlands from 2023
Rail freight operators fear that from 2023 onwards, the track access charges in the Netherlands will be higher than those in neighboring countries. In particular, the user charges for sidings and shunting tracks may skyrocket....Read more
More improvements on Polish broad gauge railway
Polish rail freight company PKP LHS continues to invest in the modernisation of the Broad Gauge Line in the southeastern part of the country. Today’s key project is the expansion of the Hrubieszów station at...Read more
‘State aid for LNG-powered trucks in Germany harms intermodal transport’
The German committee on Transport and Digital Infrastructure has recommended to extend until 2023 the experimental road toll exemption of natural gas (LNG) powered trucks. It made this announcement on 6 May. The exemption has...Read more
8 billion euros on the table for Deutsche Bahn in corona crisis
The German federal government and Deutsche Bahn are working on a financial support package of approximately 8 billion euros. The German state-owned railway company expects to lose between 11 and 13.5 billion euros in revenues...Read more
EIM: no reduction but extended payment of track access charges
It is better to give rail operators more time to pay than to reduce track access charges. If they pay lower or no charges, the burden is simply passed on to from the operators to...Read moreEU Commission: there are possibilities to reduce the costs of rail
There are possibilities to support the railway sector with state aid. EU regulation allows this under the current exceptional circumstances. Railway lobby organisations have been shouting from the roof to get across this message, and...Read more
Webinar: an introduction to Track Access Charges
As a result of the Fourth Railway Package, which aims to create a single European railway area, the European Commission changed regulations in 2012 concerning the railway user charges. An Implementing Regulation (EU 2015/909) formulated...Read more
Inspection rules for rail transport oxygen cylinders relaxed
Due to the global outbreak of the coronavirus, the demand for liquid oxygen and oxygen cylinders have increased dramatically. These are often transported by rail, categorised as dangerous goods. In order to ensure that these...Read more
‘Europe may face investment crisis in railway projects’
The European rail industry warns for an investment crisis in railway projects, if the existing EU funding legislation is not modified to suit the current corona crisis. Various lobby organisations made such statement in an...Read more
Renewal of train driver license impossible during corona crisis
The renewal of licenses or certificates for professional carriers in the rail freight industry is at stake due to the public measures taken in most EU countries in view of the COVID-19 outbreak. Several countries...Read more