All Policy articles – Page 30
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Metro Report InternationalMaking transport more sustainable after the coronavirus
EUROPE: Emphasising that ‘the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic cannot simply be a return to business as usual’, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has published guidance for policy makers aiming to reduce car use in urban areas. Developed under the Transport Health & Environment Pan-European ...
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NewsEurasian freight market is still developing
ANALYSIS: Up to 2 million TEU could be moving by rail across the Eurasian landbridge corridors by 2030, according to a study commissioned by the International Union of Railways.
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NewsAmtrak awarded $1bn from coronavirus relief package
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration is making available more than $1bn to support Amtrak operations during the coronavirus pandemic, under the terms of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act approved by the US Congress on March 27.
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NewsALLRAIL calls for action to save new passenger train operators
EUROPE: The coronavirus pandemic is ‘annihilating’ the business cases of many independent passenger operators, and without urgent action the first bankruptcies could be seen this month, the ALLRAIL association of new entrants to the rail market has warned. On April 9 ALLRAIL said the ‘understandable’ decision to ...
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NewsPaulista concession extension to be signed
BRAZIL: Transport Minister Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas has authorised the national land transportation agency ANTT to approve a 30-year extension of Rumo Logística’s concession to manage and operate the Paulista network.
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NewsUBS predicts post-pandemic shift from air to high speed rail
INTERNATIONAL: A report published by UBS Research suggests that many travellers will switch from air to high speed rail in the post Covid-19 period.
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NewsSwiss Combi’s purchase of SBB Cargo stake approved
Swiss Combi’s purchase of a 35% stake in SBB Cargo AG has been approved by the country’s Competition Commission SWITZERLAND: Swiss Combi’s purchase of a 35% stake in SBB Cargo AG was approved by the country’s Competition Commission on April 2. The transaction for an undisclosed sum ...
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Rail Business UKDfT sets out steps to a transport decarbonisation plan
UK: The Department for Transport has published Decarbonising Transport: Setting the Challenge, a policy paper explaining out how it intends to develop a plan to meet the government’s target of net zero transport emissions by 2050. The plan is scheduled to be published later this year. The ...
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NewsFrench freight alliance plans fightback
FRANCE: Proposals to relaunch rail freight in France are to be published in June, under plans now being developed by an alliance of cargo operators.
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NewsInternational Transport Workers’ Federation calls for action to protect staff from Covid-19
Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases INTERNATIONAL: The International Transport Workers’ Federation of almost 700 trade unions representing nearly 20 million people in 150 countries has issued a list of five areas where it believes governments and employers must take action to protect employees during ...
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NewsSanctioned European goods transit Russia to reach China by rail
INTERNATIONAL: EU goods which are subject to Russian sanctions can now be transported from Europe to China by rail using electronic seals during transit through Russia. A test shipment of frozen salmon travelled from the Netherlands to Duisburg, where it left for Xi’an ...
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NewsLatvian railway electrification project on hold
LATVIA: National railway group LDz has put its electrification programme on hold. It said a decrease in freight volumes which began in the first half of 2019 is forecast to continue, and it would not be able to balance its budget in 2020 without additional government funding. ...
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NewsEuropean Commission approves public financing of Fehmarn Belt fixed link
EUROPE: The European Commission has concluded that Denmark’s public financing model for the Fehmarn Belt rail and road tunnel to Germany is compatible with EU state aid rules. The Commission had approved the model in July 2015, but ferry companies Scandlines and Stena Line subsequently appealed. In ...
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NewsUK train operators offered management contracts or nationalisation
UK: The Department for Transport has given the franchised passenger train operators it is responsible for the opportunity to move to temporary management contracts. On March 23 DfT said it would temporarily suspend existing franchise agreements and transfer all revenue and cost risk to the government for ...
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NewsUIC publishes Covid-19 management guidance for railway stakeholders
INTERNATIONAL: Following the first meeting of its coronvirus task force, the International Union of Railways has published Management of Covid-19: Guidance for Railway Stakeholders. UIC has published Management of Covid-19: Guidance for Railway Stakeholders. The document which is freely available online is designed ...
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Metro Report InternationalTransport for London forecasts £500m financial impact from coronavirus
UK: Transport for London has issued an update on how the coronavirus has affected passenger numbers and how it intends to utilise its reserves to manage the forecast initial financial impact of £500m. On March 16 TfL said it had seen an underlying softness in demand and ...
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NewsIntermodal sector calls for ‘fast, lean, pragmatic’ measures to safeguard rail freight in the coronavirus crisis
EUROPE: A group of organisations involved in the intermodal freight sector have published an open letter to European and Italian institutions emphasising the importance of acting in a ‘fast, lean, pragmatic way’ to safeguard rail transport as a strategic asset for the economy during the coronavirus outbreak. ...
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NewsInternational Union of Railways forms coronavirus task force
INTERNATIONAL: The International Union of Railways has formed a Covid-19 Task Force which will work with the rail section and external organisations to disseminate best practice on limiting and managing the disease’s outbreak while taking into account rail-specific issues and ensuring harmonisation within the railway community. UIC ...
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News‘Beware the bubble’, warn level crossing safety campaigners
INTERNATIONAL: The International Union of Railways has selected ‘Beware the bubble’ as the theme for the 12th International Level Crossing Awareness Day, which will take place on June 11.
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NewsLIVE: rail sector responds to coronavirus
Rolling updates on the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the global railway industry.
