‘Freed-up capacity for freight should be new normal’
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
Will the Schengen travel ban affect the movement of goods?
The European Union is set to shut down all Schengen area borders as an extreme measure to prevent the coronavirus from spreading further. It is expected that this measure will not apply to the movement...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
Quieter brakes, track upgrades and more port connections in Europe
The EU is investing over 117 million euros in 39 key transport projects that will help build missing connections across the continent, while focusing on sustainable transport modes. The projects will reduce the noise generated...Read more
Wish list for new legislative period EU
With the constitution of the new European Parliament Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee, a new legislative period kicks in. Two independent rail company groups, ERFA and ALLRAIL, submitted their wish list of changes and improvements...Read more
EU and China to analyse sustainable rail transport corridors
The EU and China will conduct a joint study on sustainable rail-based comprehensive transport corridors between Europe and China. This was agreed during a meeting of the EU-China Connectivity Platform on 8 April in Brussels....Read more
New CEF facility created for funding ERTMS
The European Commission and the European Investment Bank have launched the new CEF Transport Blending Facility, which is a financial instrument to support projects such as ERTMS. With an initial budget of 200 million Euros...Read more
Deadline for amendments to Combined Transport Directive
The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee Rapporteur, Daniela Aiuto, has delivered her report to the European Commission with at least 27 amendments to the Combined Transport Directive. The deadline for suggesting amendments to this legislative...Read moreEU/US alliance: ‘intermodal transport vital for competition’
A concerted effort to promote intermodality is key to increasing competitiveness and cutting carbon emissions, says a new transatlantic rail and road alliance. The International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR) joined forces with its stateside...Read moreEC approves Italian rail freight funding scheme
The European Commission (EC) has given the green light to an Italian funding scheme aimed at supporting the shift of freight from road to rail in the northern province of Bolzano. Running until 2019 and with...Read more
EU Court of Auditors: ‘ERTMS roll-out insufficient’
The implementation of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is insufficient and too fragmented, states the European Court of Auditors in a report published on Tuesday. The financial burden and a lack of individual...Read more
UK container freight to EU increased
Container traffic between UK ports and EU countries increased by nine per cent to 3.6 million TEUs in 2016. In units, the increase was eight per cent to 2.0 million units. Freight traffic to and...Read more
EU project for ‘real time’ sharing of freight train ETAs
The Royal Dutch Transport association (KNV), which represents rail freight employers, is to lead a Europe-wide project on the real-time exchange of data on the arrival times of freight trains. It will work with intermodal body...Read more
Slovenia puts 1 billion Euros rail freight plan to the people
A rail freight infrastructure programme for Slovenia that would cost a billion Euros is to be put to a referendum, following a vote by the country’s Parliament. The 27-kilometre line is designed to speed up...Read more
EU Commissioner Bulc: ERTMS roll-out ‘too slow’
Roll-out of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) has been ‘too slow’ and action is required to ensure targets are met, says the EU’s Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc. She told the final SERA railway convention...Read more
Rail Baltica can deliver increased freight exports
A new cost-benefit analysis on Rail Baltica, an EU initiative linking the Baltic States and Poland with a new standard gauge freight line, says the project can deliver vital socio-economic benefits such as increased exports....Read more