Poland concerned about noise regulations for ‘loud’ wagons
Many rail freight operators from Central and Eastern Europe will not be able to provide the quick modernisation of their wagon fleet, something that is required when several EU member states implement noise regulations. Member...Read more
Transport sector makes recommendations for EU Green Deal
Fifteen organisations from the transport sector have called for a bold and realistic European Green Deal in a joint announcement. They welcome the Green Deal, but also state that its success will depend on the...Read more
Another battle for Combined Transport Directive
The European Commission has withdrawn the amendment proposal of the Combined Transport Directive. This became clear from its work programme 2020. The withdrawal means a delay to the modernisation of the Directive, which has been...Read more
Road and combined transport at odds over EU legislation
The combined transport sector is up in arms about a proposed adjustment to regulation concerning road haulage in the EU. The proposal could severely impact existing combined Transport services, as it compromises its position towards...Read more
French railway strikes cost SNCF nearly billion euros
The French railway company SNCF expects to have suffered losses amounting to nearly 600 million euros in revenue due to the railway strikes. This was said by the new company president & CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou....Read more
“No cosmetic, but real reform of Deutsche Bahn”
Deutsche Bahn must be transformed into a state-owned GmbH, so that the German government is able to sufficiently influence corporate governance. Only then will the transformation of the state-owned rail company be success. That says...Read moreRail freight produces 6 times less CO2 than truck
In 2018, an average freight train emitted around 18 grams of carbon dioxide per tonne-kilometer. The emissions of an average truck were much higher: 112 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The Umweltbundesamt, the environmental department...Read more
HS2 is logical, says logistics sector
A scathing report on the sky-rocketing costs of Britain’s London to Birmingham and northwards high-speed rail project has drawn an equally high-speed reaction from the freight logistics sector, and support and criticism in equal measure...Read more
Ukraine moves towards liberalisation of rail freight sector
The Government of Ukraine plans to liberalise the country’s rail freight sector. To this end, a pilot project will be introduced on railways. Until 4 December 2021, the private enterprises will be able to provide...Read more
Rail Freight Forward coalition implements Handbook
In its vision paper “30 by 2030” the Rail Freight Forward coalition (RFF) has committed to adopt and implement a Contingency Management Handbook. This Handbook outlines harmonised international contingency measures whenever major disruptions happen on...Read moreTEN-T permit procedures should be more efficient
The European Council has proposed to facilitate the completion of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) by speeding up permit-granting procedures. It also wants to clarify the procedures of permit granting and public procurement. The Council made...Read more
Swiss subsidies for rail freight remain in place till 2026
The Swiss government will extend its subsidising scheme for rail freight operations up till 2026. Previously, these subsidies were to be abolished in 2023. In addition, track access for freight trains in Switzerland will be...Read more
ERFA: State Aid Guidelines are outdated
The European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) wants the State Aid Guidelines for Railway Undertakings revised. The set of standards must be modernised, to take into consideration developments in the rail freight sector over the past...Read more
Strikes in France to impact rail freight operations
Rail freight in France is to suffer disturbances due to a wide-scale strike by the transport industry on Thursday and maybe also Friday. The strikes are held to voice against the reforms of the pension...Read more
Leaked EU Green Deal could suit the rail freight sector
Brussel’s draft plan for the European Green Deal was leaked last week. If all what is ambitioned will actually go through, the future for rail freight looks bright. The plan responds to many of the...Read more
CER: time-based road tolls hinder shift to rail
The modal shift to rail is impossible without fair competition. For that reason, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) is calling the EU Member States to introduce the distance-based tolls on all...Read more