France responds to European Commission probe into Fret SNCF state aid
France is ready for the formal examination procedure by the European Commission into the conditions of the financing of SNCF’s rail freight unit, Fret SNCF, dating back several years before its transformation into a subsidiary...Read more
The Netherlands digs out 10 million to overcome train nuisance, but from which pocket?
The Netherlands is investing ten million euros to decrease nuisance on the Brabant Route when Germany is building the Third Track between Emmerich and Oberhausen, which will form the extension of the Dutch Betuweroute. During...Read more
‘Too soon to scrap away broad gauge tracks,’ says Latvia
The decision of EU transport ministers that all EU member states should devise a plan to adopt the 1435mm railway gauge by 2025-2026 keeps finding resistance in the Baltic states. The recently appointed Latvian transport...Read more
ProRail is failing the Dutch rail freight sector, says organisation
RailGood, the Dutch employers’ organisation for the rail freight industry, is claiming that ProRail, the Dutch infrastructure manager, is failing the sector in the Netherlands. The main issues pointed out by RailGood are excessive increases...Read more
Germany steps in to help railway companies pay electricity bill
The German parliament has voted in favour of reducing electricity prices for railways to 13 cents per kWh. This is a significant reduction of what the industry pays now, according to Conor Feighan from the...Read more
Rail freight critical to North of England economy says new report
A new report for Transport for the North reveals that the regional freight and logistics sector could be worth more than thirty billion pounds to the national economy. Rail freight has been identified as critical...Read more
Electricity prices in France will multiply by 8.5
SNCF Réseau will increase the electricity prices in France, from 56 euros/MWh in 2021 to 473,51 euros/MWh in 2023, which equals to an 8,5 fold increase. According to Alliance 4F, the largest rail freight association...Read more
CER says outlook electricity prices is worrying for rail companies
The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) has called on EU member states to intervene on behalf of railway companies when it comes to the rising electricity prices. According to CER, “the outlook...Read more
French rail workers to strike over the weekend
STRIKE ALERTAfter negotiations with SNCF on Friday 10 December failed, French union SUD-Rail is maintaining their plan to strike from 15 December to 19 December. The French national rail company offered 60 extra euros a month...Read more
Scottish rail needs to be decarbonised by 2035, also in remote areas
The Scottish government is following an aggressive policy of decarbonisation, and plans to make Scotland’s economy net-zero by 2045, five years ahead of the UK ambition for the same target. And thus, rail needs to...Read more
ERA assesses 2 EU border crossings, this is what it found
The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) presented a study identifying various barriers in border-crossing rail transportation that cause significant losses of time. When it comes to rail freight, the biggest delays are caused by...Read more
US rail strike: shareholders of railway companies get involved
Shareholders in two of the largest railway companies in the United States are asking them to implement paid sick leave as a standard perennial benefit. The railway companies involved are Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.Read more
Where is the money promised by the Hungarian government?
The aid announced by the Hungarian government to help the rail freight industry has not been implemented yet. The government proposed a 40 per cent reduction of track access charges on the national railway network....Read more
US Congress blocked nationwide rail strike
The US Senate approved the bill that would block the national strike that has been threatening the country over the last few months on Thursday 1 December. Moreover, they rejected the amendment that would include...Read more
Australia: Pacific National put over 800 employees on lockout
Pacific National (PN), one of the largest rail freight companies in Australia, has been keeping over 800 employees in the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney, on lockout since 23 November. The lockout may cause major...Read more
US railroad strike could happen in early December
One of the largest US rail workers’ unions, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), is ready to go on strike as early as 5 December. Three more unions set 9 December as their deadline for...Read more
Dutch rail industry criticises ‘incomprehensible’ state investments
The Dutch rail industry association RailGood and DB Cargo Netherlands claim that investments planned by the Dutch government leave rail freight out of the picture. Specifically, the two parties criticise the cabinet’s investment of 7,5...Read more
Spanish rail freight association demands state support for energy prices
The Association of Owners and Operators of Wagons of Spain (Faprove) asked for Spanish rail freight companies to be included as beneficiaries of the financing from the cap on energy prices. The association did so...Read more
French rail association asks for more state aid to develop rail freight
Major rail freight players in France presented new demands to Clement Beaune, the Minister for Transport, as Alliance 4F (Fret Ferroviaire Français du Futur) claimed. The main purpose of these demands is to make rail freight...Read more