Words versus reality: “The Dutch Second Chamber is being misled,” says head of rail organisation
InterviewOn Friday 1 March, the Dutch state secretary for infrastructure addressed a wide range of rail freight policy issues in a letter to the lower house of parliament. While the letter presented some successes, not...Read more
Manifesto for Rail to be keynote at George Bradshaw Address
Prioritise getting freight off roads and onto rail is the unsurprising manifesto pledge from Rail Partners, the influential policy and lobby group, representing operators in the freight and passenger sectors in the UK rail industry....Read moreOut of sight, out of mind: the Netherlands falling behind on rail freight
The Netherlands desperately lack a vision for rail freight. That is the message of Hans-Willem Vroon, director of RailGood, a Dutch organisation promoting the interests of the rail freight sector. The Dutch government fails to...Read more
The multiple fights that German rail has to fight
ANALYSISTraffic forecasts claiming that road transport will grow more than rail. Attempts to restructure the state-owned company, but with an unclear vision. A railway network under pressure, and strikes looming around the corner. All these...Read more
Supply chains will probably survive Germany’s new China strategy
ANALYSIS‘We need to release ourselves from the cheap Chinese supply chains’. ‘We could be moving to a new Cold War era’. ‘We need to be sensible and seize economic possibilities with China’. These contrasting viewpoints...Read more
New Year’s resolution: China relaxes pandemic rules causing joy to Eurasian rail
From 8 January 2023, China will no longer implement quarantine and infectious disease management measures for the entry of personnel and goods into the country. After almost three years of strict measures, the government has...Read more
Rail freight industry Belgium presents Rail Roadmap 2030
More than twenty organisations in Belgium, including the Flemish ports, Infrabel and VBO, have presented the Rail Roadmap 2030. In this document they indicate which steps must be taken to enable a doubling of rail...Read more
It’s official: German train drivers go on strike
The union of German locomotive drivers (GDL) has decided to go on a strike. The strike will be in effect from today, Tuesday 10 August, until Friday 13 August. Rail freight will also be affected...Read more
Amendments to the road toll rules: good or bad news?
A provisional agreement has been reached on the amendment of the Eurovignette Directive. This means that one more step has been taken towards a more equal playing field for rail and road transport. In practice,...Read more
TEN-T 2013-2020 has passed the test
The TEN-T planning and decision-making process has been effective in helping the EU move towards efficient infrastructure. However, the objectives of greater sustainability and increased benefits for users still require a lot of attention.This is...Read more