European policy makers should find a way of charging for infrastructure that incentivises the greenest possible choice of modality. This requires a multimodal approach, rather than an isolated policy for a single transport sector, say...Read more
Railway associations want to prolong the regulation allowing to waive, reduce or defer track access charges in the face of Covid-19. The regulation would last until the end of June, but they asked for it...Read more
Germany has proposed to continue the reduction of track access charges until the end of 2021. Interestingly, the charges will almost be nullified; from the current 50 per cent reduction it wants to move to...Read more
From next year, prices for freight railway undertakings using Polish infrastructure will increase by 2,3 per cent. The raise means that freight carriers will have to pay 13,09 PLN per tonne-km, instead of 12,80 PLN...Read more
The European Year of Rail should work as the starting point, where the sector will provide solutions rather than general arguments for burning issues such as the modal shift. This is how the European Rail...Read more
The rail sector is concerned about last week’s announcements regarding the upgrade of the European Climate Law. CER, ERFA, and UIRR believe that the Eurovignette Directive reform undermines rail freight’s competition, and focuses more on...Read more
On 15 December the European Parliament officially adopted 2021 as the European year of Rail with 684 votes in favour. ERFA welcomed the decision and highlighted the benefits and focal points that should be taken...Read more
Non-discriminatory support measures for everyone in the rail freight sector. That is what the European Rail Freight Association wants from the European Commission and the Member States, responding to the the second COVID-19 wave hitting...Read more
Member States of the European Union may waive or reduce track access charges to support railway undertakings during the pandemic. The European Parliament voted in favor of this new regulation earlier today. Railway companies are...Read more
The European Commission has proposed a regulation that allows EU Member States to waive or reduce track access charges as well as reservation charges. This is to support railway undertakings, which are facing challenging times...Read more
Now that passenger traffic gradually returns to the railways of Europe, it is a good moment to reflect on the much-debated capacity issue for freight. If there is one lesson learnt from the corona crisis,...Read more
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
Various railway organisations have welcomed the proposal of the European Commission to designate 2021 as the European Year of Rail. They believe that it should serve as an opportunity to deliver a much-needed legal framework...Read more
ERFA’s Board of Directors welcomes the addition of Lineas to its membership. The European lobby organisation for rail transport believes that Lineas, in cooperation with other ERFA members, will have a key role to play...Read more
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 more
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
The two Belgian state-owned railway companies, SNCB and Infrabel, may be joined into a single company. The first being a passenger railway firm while the other an infrastructure manager, the proposed union has sparked fierce...Read more
The European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) has appointed a new secretary general. Starting from 26 August, Conor Feighan has taken office, heading the Brussels-based company that represents the European railway industry. Feighan replaces Carole Coune.
Conor...Read more
