‘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
180 million euros to support electric traction in Czechia
Rail in the Czech Republic is yet to benefit from another state aid scheme. The EU Commission approved a package of 180 million euros to support rail operators using electric traction. The measure targets improving...Read more
Commission injects nearly half a billion into French single wagonload transport
Another incentive is added for rail companies in France and a booster for the French national rail freight development plan. Last week, the European Commission approved a 450 million euros state aid scheme to support...Read more
CER throws the ball to von der Leyen’s court: “time for concrete energy measures”
After public requests, the European railway sector directly requested Brussels to take action against the electricity and energy crisis. With an open letter to the president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, CER...Read more
EU’s electricity price cap is “the decision rail waited for”
On Friday, 30 September, the EU energy ministers’ council decided to adopt a price cap for electricity at 180 euros/MWh to tackle the galloping energy crisis. Despite the price being higher than pre-crisis levels, it...Read more
Commission intervenes to reduce spiking energy prices, compensations in the plans
The European Commission decided on an emergency energy market intervention to control and reduce the rising energy prices. The executive body issued three immediate measures that will see excess revenues from the fossil-fuel sector returning...Read more
EU Commission: 5 billion euros in infrastructure investments with multimodal angle
The European Commission is ready to release 5,12 billion euros through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in infrastructure projects targeting mainly the TEN-T network and multimodal transport. For interested parties, a call for proposals will...Read more
Railway sector fears unstable energy supply, calls Brussels to act
With the increasing energy bills and insecurity about a steady supply, the European railway sector calls for action. Sector associations Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and the European Rail Freight Association (ERFA)...Read more
EU wants standard European track gauge for all member states
The European Commission proposed introducing a standard European track width of 1435mm for all member states. This is because the war in Ukraine has made Brussels realise that different track gauges can cause many restrictions...Read more
Kaliningrad-bound trains back on track after sanction update
UPDATEThe first Kaliningrad-bound train from Russia reached the Lithuanian border on Tuesday, 26 July. After a few weeks of uncertainty, this train marks the restoration of rail freight traffic between Russia and its exclave.Read more
DB in the state aid loop again with multimillion financial injection
Deutsche Bahn will receive 215 million euros in the form of equity injection under the EU’s state aid guidelines. The financial support scheme was approved by Brussels, aiming to compensate the German national company for...Read more
“Simpler state aid is great, but mind the internal competition”
The European Commission’s intention to simplify the state aid rules for green transport could directly benefit rail, which is very important. However, when it comes to granting subsidies and funding, the Commission and the Member...Read more
It’s official: no sanctions apply to Kaliningrad’s rail transit
UPDATEThe European Commission realised the scenario of reversing the decision to impose restrictions on rail freight transit to Kaliningrad via Lithuania. Brussels published a guidance document clarifying that no sanction regime applies to rail transport...Read more
77% of CEF financing in first call for TEN-T goes to rail
ANALYSISIn the first round of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T), 77,7 per cent will go to railway projects. Sixty-seven rail projects across Europe will be funded for a total...Read moreCommission wants to make state aid for rail easier, what does this mean?
The EU Commission has proposed a new regulation allowing the Member States to provide state aid to specific transport modes more easily. Rail, inland waterway and multimodal transport will benefit directly with the objective to...Read more
EU invests billions in infrastructure projects-rail gets fair share of the pie
The EU Commission has selected 135 transport infrastructure projects eligible for EU grants. Brussels will allocate 5,4 billion euros to them through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), targeting the development of the TEN-T network and...Read more
EU Parliament votes for ETS revision with direct benefits for rail
The EU Parliament’s plenary session on Wednesday, 22 June, voted in favour of revising the EU Emissions Trading System. In practice, this means that the ETS will include emissions from all transport modes, while its...Read more130 million state aid for Italy targets track access charges
The EU Commission has approved another state aid scheme for Italy. This time 130 million euros are reserved to support freight and passenger rail operators by partially compensating for track access charges expenses.Read more
EU sets up market place for grain transportation Ukraine
A new platform called Grain Lane was launched to bring together Ukrainian farmers and European logistics providers. The app, launched by the European Commission together with V_labs and Rail Cargo Group, should optimize grain exports...Read more