All Policy articles – Page 14
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NewsFinland responds to European Commission regauging proposal
FINLAND: Minister of Transport & Communications Timo Harakka has described as ‘unreasonable’ the European Commission’s proposal to require the use of 1 435 mm gauge throughout the TEN-T rail network, arguing that Finland should be regarded as a special case. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ...
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NewsBenefits accrue from rural railway reopenings, study finds
GERMANY: Reopening rural railways offers an important spectrum of benefits, according to a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development & Building.
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NewsPresident Marcos commits to rail investment
PHILIPPINES: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr underlined his commitment to continuing and expanding the previous administration’s investment in rail during his first state of the nation address. ‘The infrastructure programme of the Duterte administration must not only continue but, wherever possible, be expanded’, he said. ‘We must ...
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NewsQueensland unveils Brisbane rail expansion strategy
AUSTRALIA: A pipeline of investment valued at more than A$20bn will support the long-term expansion of the southeast Queensland rail network under proposals published by the state government on August 2.
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NewsGauge conversion and new routes added to TEN-T revision proposal
EUROPE: The European Commission’s proposals to revise the TEN-T Regulation have been amended in the light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with routes to Ukraine and Moldova added, Russia and Belarus removed, and a requirement for 1 435 mm gauge on TEN-T routes added.
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NewsFederal Railroad Administration proposes national train crew size rule
USA: Rail industry associations have criticised a Federal Railroad Administration proposal to replace varying state laws on train crew size with a uniform national standard requiring a minimum of two people for main line operations. There would be exceptions for low-risk operations, with railways able to ...
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NewsRecommendations to save Japan’s rural railways issued
JAPAN: A study group formed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism has published its report into whether and to what extent rural railways across the country can be revived.
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In depthSénégal: Rites deal supports passenger revival
Grands Trains du Sénégal’s ambitions to restore passenger services on sections of the Senegalese network will be boosted by support from Indian consultancy Rites.
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NewsMixed response to Spanish free rail travel proposals
SPAIN: Measures to encourage regular commuters to shift from car to rail including free season tickets were outlined by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during the government’s State of the Nation debate in mid-July, however the limitations of the offer have led to confusion among policymakers and campaign groups.
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NewsSlow ERTMS roll-out is hindering French market opening, regulator warns
FRANCE: The limited roll-out of ERTMS is a major obstacle to the opening of the French domestic market to competition, according to rail regulator ART.
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NewsCanadian measures to address effects of climate change on rail
CANADA: Transport Canada has announced a Rail Climate Change Adaptation Programme to provide up to C$2·2m of co-funding for to support research and development activity to address the impacts of climate change on the rail sector.
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NewsCzechs urge high speed rail promoters to focus on released capacity benefits
EUROPE: High speed rail investment should place greater focus on the benefits of releasing capacity on existing lines, a group of Czech policymakers and industry leaders told a summit in Brussels on July 11.
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NewsCalifornia high speed starter section set for completion as state funding finalised
USA: The state of California appears finally to be on course to complete the Initial Operating Section of its high speed rail network between Bakersfield and Merced after the programme was allocated $4·2bn in the annual state budget on June 30.
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NewsCross-border links backed as €5·4bn in grants awarded at Connecting Europe Days
A total of €5·4bn in transport investment funding was announced at the Connecting Europe Days in Lyon on June 29. Toma Bačić reports from Lyon.
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In depthSouth Africa: PRASA revival hangs by a thread
Infrastructure theft and vandalism brought South Africa’s passenger railways to their knees during the pandemic lockdown of spring 2020. Restoration of PRASA’s Western Cape suburban services is now offering hope for the future, but in populous Gauteng the outlook seems bleak, with many routes rendered inoperable. Benjámin Zelki visited in early 2022.
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NewsWestern Balkan railways need better integration and more maintenance, conference hears
EUROPE: Planned major projects, available financing mechanisms, and the need for international integration of railways including the expansion of the Trans-European Transport Network were discussed at the Connecting the Western Balkans to the EU rail market through investment and reform conference. The online event was ...
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In depthComment: No time to delay
The rail industry is emerging from the pandemic facing an urgent need to prioritise investment and ensure tangible operational, productivity and technological benefits are delivered within the next five years, argues our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsSmart & Affordable High Speed Services in the EU study planned
EUROPE: Railway industry associations have signed memorandum of understanding to undertake a study into ‘Smart & Affordable High-Speed Services in the European Union’, in order to demonstrate the benefits of a ‘radical transformation’ of the rail network to provide high speed services linking all major continental ...
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NewsConsultation starts on Swiss Bahn 2050 programme
SWITZERLAND: The Federal Council has put forward proposals for a further long-term programme of investment in the national rail network. Enhancement of the existing network to allow more intensive use is now seen as preferable to starting more major infrastructure projects.
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NewsCOTIF uniform rules applied across Estonian network
ESTONIA: The Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail’s CIV rules for international passenger traffic and the CIM equivalent for freight apply to the entire Estonian network with effect from June 16. Estonia acceded to the COTIF convention in January 2009, the last of the then EU ...