Rail policy & legislation news
Latest news about railway industry policy, reform, restructuring, planning, law, legislation and regulation worldwide.
Rolling stock owners call for action on rail’s ‘patchwork of increasingly expensive technologies’
EUROPE: The Association of European Rail Rolling stock Lessors has called for the more co-ordinated deployment of ERTMS, changes to subsidy policies and measures to ensure life-time support of vehicles. It says these measures are needed to avoid disrupting procurement and to avoid rail pricing itself out of the freight market.
Regional Railways: A reversal of fortunes in Catalunya
Threatened with closure in the mid-1980s, Catalunya’s Lleida – La Pobla de Segur branch has been revitalised by the regional government over the past two decades. Targeted investment is paying off with steadily increasing ridership, reports Mike Bent.
Comment: A glimpse over the horizon
As celebrations in Britain this year mark 200 years since the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, our Consultant Editor Murray Hughes reflects on his 50 years writing for Railway Gazette International and assesses where the rail sector might go in the coming half-century.
Regional passenger services in Grand Est stepped up further
FRANCE: The next stage of the Réseau Express Métropolitain Européen programme to increase local passenger services in the area around Strasbourg has been launched.
Questions remain for the rail sector in English devolution plans
UK: The rail sector has welcomed the outline plans for local politicians to have greater control of passenger rail services which are set out in the government’s white paper on devolution in England, but questions remain about the future scope and structure.
Comment: A waning appetite for competition
While the EU’s third and fourth railway packages sought to liberalise the passenger rail sector within the bloc and influence it beyond, the establishment of a competitive dynamic within the European market seems less assured than it has for some time, argues Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
DB Cargo state aid approved
Portugal’s Green Rail Pass scheme proves popular with younger travellers
Legal changes aim to streamline Californian rail electrification projects
‘Turning point’ reached for potential new Channel Tunnel train operators
Report calls for harmonisation of standards across Australia’s 29 rail networks
Interview: Putting ERA at the heart of Europe’s railway ecosystem
Rail Minister Hendy strikes conciliatory tone as he backs ‘fresh start’ for UK rail
Interview: ČD sees fleet renewal opportunity despite ‘tedious’ approval task
North Macedonia reverses rail market opening to save national operator
Interview: ‘No limit’ on the potential of French high speed market
‘Railway Erasmus’ scheme proposed to tackle the sector’s skills shortage
Network Rail to be abolished under rail reforms as Haigh rejects ‘BR reboot’
State railways fined for colluding against open access operator
Interview: SBB’s Ducrot prioritises co-operation over competition
Viewpoint: Do not rush UK rail reform
Saudi Arabia Railways says its 2035 vision offers ‘excellent investment opportunities’
Comment: Rail must respond to Draghi’s challenge
Rail competition works, says European Commission report