This year is the European Year of Rail, and the European Commission has launched the official website of this event. The train as a smart and sustainable means of transport will receive extra attention in...Read more
The European Commission announced its ‘sustainable and smart mobility strategy’ and ‘action plan’ with regards to the transformation of European transportation. Objectives concern the doubling of rail freight traffic by 2050, and the doubling of...Read more
Several European countries have already reduced or waived track access charges (TACs) for rail freight undertakings. For instance, Germany and the Netherlands have cut them in half, while Austria and Luxemburg have waived them completely....Read more
The Commission’s decision to fine Lithuanian Railways (LG) back in 2017 is correct. This is the verdict of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The fine was imposed to the rail operator with...Read more
The European Commission shared some interesting updates concerning the work plans of nine TEN-T corridors. Corridors of the TEN-T network are expected to be fully developed until 2030. Consequently, the updates are aiming to guide...Read more
A 600 million euro German scheme has been approved by the European Commission under the EU state aid rules. The scheme aims to provide support to single wagon rail freight transportation. With a duration until...Read more
Transparency, sustainability, level playing field, and reciprocity: these four pillars define Maja Bakran Marcich’s point of view on the cooperation between Europe-China on the New Silk Road. “If BRI respects these principles, adheres to EU...Read more
The European Commission has taken additional measures to improve the rapid flow of goods by rail now that most Member States are in full or partial lockdown. This is to ensure that the trains are...Read more
“Europe needs a low-carb diet”. This was one of the statements made at the European Intermodal Summit 2020. It doesn’t refer to an actual nutritional value. Instead, it was used by Hupac’s CEO Michail Stahlut to...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 is inviting private and public companies to form a European Partnership on Rail Research and Innovation, which is to succeed the current Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking. In an invitation of Expression of Interest,...Read more
Poland’s rail freight market is on the verge of a big merger. Two major operators Lotos Kolej and Orlen KolTrans will be amalgamated into one entity. The combined operator will be a strong player in...Read more
The European Commission has made available 62 million euro in subsidies for infrastructure projects in the Netherlands. Brussels is contributing 8.7 million euros to the work on the Theemsweg route in the Rotterdam port area...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
In order to implement the European Green Deal, the rail sector should develop standardisation and interoperability. Among other things, this means the necessity of introducing the 740-metre or even longer freight trains on the railway...Read more
The long-term budget (MFF) and recovery plan for the transport sector presented by European Commission has been welcomed by the railway industry. But, it is not sufficient for an overall shift to green mobility, says...Read more
The Polish railway undertaking PKP SA has appealed the European Commission to support railway investments that will effectively help stimulate the EU economic recovery plan. CEO Krzysztof Mamiński called for special priority for railway support...Read more
It is better to give rail operators more time to pay than to reduce track access charges. If they pay lower or no charges, the burden is simply passed on to from the operators to...Read more
There are possibilities to support the railway sector with state aid. EU regulation allows this under the current exceptional circumstances. Railway lobby organisations have been shouting from the roof to get across this message, and...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
The renewal of licenses or certificates for professional carriers in the rail freight industry is at stake due to the public measures taken in most EU countries in view of the COVID-19 outbreak. Several countries...Read more
