All Policy articles – Page 69
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NewsForce majeure does not exempt train operators from compensating delayed passengers
EUROPE: The Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies and the International Rail Transport Committee have called for the European Commission to harmonise consumer protection laws between transport modes, after the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that railway undertakings are not exempt from refunding passengers for delays ...
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News€510m package to renew inter-city fleet
FRANCE: Meeting on September 26, the SNCF board approved a draft financing agreement which paves the way for replacement of the ageing fleet used to operate longer-distance passenger trains on the conventional network, known as trains d’équilibre du territoire. Loss-making services on 38 designated routes, used by around 100 000 ...
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NewsOil taxes to fund Danish rail investment
DENMARK: The government and two opposition parties have reached an agreement to raise taxes on North Sea hydrocarbon extraction and invest the additional revenue in upgrading the rail network. The deal finalised on September 17 is expected to raise DKr28·5bn for the state, which would allocate the money to the ...
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NewsThree expressions of interest in Greek rail privatisation
GREECE: Three expressions of interest in the purchase of a 100% stake in national train operator Trainose were submitted by the September 16 deadline, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund privatisation agency has announced. The companies involved were not disclosed by HRADF, but local media has named them as French ...
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NewsMulti-faced approach is key to maximising rail capacity
INTERNATIONAL: Making best use of capacity on key corridors requires all stakeholders to work together, and address the issue from a ‘systems’ perspective, according to Stefan Wendel, Programme Director for European rail freight Corridor 1 linking Rotterdam and Genova. Speaking in the Railway Gazette TV interactive debate The Capacity Challenge ...
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NewsCompetition concerns spark traction energy price changes
GERMANY: The European Commission is seeking comments on Deutsche Bahn’s proposals to change its 15 kV 16·7 Hz traction current pricing system in response to concerns that the existing model restricts competition in the freight and long-distance passenger markets. If the consultation confirms that the changes would remedy the European ...
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NewsCFR Marfa sale agreement signed
ROMANIA: A contract for the privatisation of a 51% stake in state-owned rail freight operator CFR Marfa was formally signed on September 2 by Transport Secretary Cristian Gribu and Sorin Chinde, Chief Executive of Grup Feroviar Român. The event attended was by Transport Minister Ramona Manescu and GFR’s co-owner Gruia ...
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NewsRail focus in Gauteng’s 25-year transport strategy
SOUTH AFRICA: A major investment in upgrading rail services around Johannesburg is envisaged in Gauteng province’s draft 25-year Integrated Transport Master Plan, which has been published for consultation. Developed by an inter-disciplinary team led by Gautrain CEO Jack van der Merwe, ITMP25 sets out a strategic multi-modal framework which is ...
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NewsOslo tunnel plans to be studied
NORWAY: Proposals for a second cross-city tunnel to relieve the busy rail link through the centre of Oslo are to be examined as part of a study commissioned by the Ministry of Transport & Communications on August 14. Infrastructure manager Jernbaneverket, national road agency Statens Vegvesen and the greater Oslo ...
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NewsIsrael Railways electrification plan approved
ISRAEL: A US$3·2bn programme to electrify 420 km of existing and planned railway was approved by the Committee for National Infrastructure on August 12. The first lines to be electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz would be the future 23 km 'Akko - Karmi'el route and Tel Aviv - Jerusalem ...
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NewsFurther safety measures follow Santiago de Compostela crash
SPAIN: The Ministry of Development announced on August 2 that the ASFA train protection system is to be installed to enforce speed limits on the national network, following recommendations made by rail accident investigation commission CIAF in advance of its report into the derailment at Santiago de Compostela on July ...
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NewsRhein-Ruhr-Express funding agreement
GERMANY: The federal government has committed to including the first phase of the Rhein-Ruhr-Express project in its 2014 budget. This would include funding for modernisation of the Köln-Mülheim -Langenfeld-Berghausen line as well as upgrading works in Dortmund. 'The marathon negotiations are finally crowned with success' said Nordrhein-Westfalen Transport Minister Michael ...
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NewsSafety directive responds to Lac-Mégantic fireball tragedy
CANADA: An emergency directive setting new rules for handling dangerous goods by rail was issued by Transport Canada on July 23. This followed the runaway of an unattended train carrying crude oil in the early hours of July 6, leading to a derailment in the town of Lac-Mégantic, Québec, 240 ...
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NewsZSSK Cargo restructuring approved
SLOVAKIA: The government approved the Ministry of Transport's proposals for the restructuring and part-privatisation of ZSSK Cargo on July 10. The national freight operator has been hard hit by the economic downturn and the slump in Slovakia's steel industry, making a loss of €24m in 2012 compared to just €0·3m ...
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NewsGreece invites interest in privatisation of train operator Trainose
GREECE: Privatisation agency the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund has invited expressions of interest in the purchase of 100% of the share capital of national train operator Trainose. The process is to be undertaken in two phases, with Phase A being the submission of expressions of interest by September 16. ...
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NewsUIC and ERA reach agreement over telematics documentation
EUROPE: An agreement providing for the future co-ordination of technical documentation covering Telematics Applications for Passengers was signed at the European Railway Agency headquarters in Valenciennes on July 1. It specifies how ERA and UIC will maintain their respective documents in order to ensure 'continuous synchronisation' between the relevant ERA ...
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NewsPrivate plans in Nigeria
NIGERIA: The government has prepared a bill to amend the 1957 Railway Act with a view to permitting private sector involvement in the rail sector. Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corp Adeseyi Sijuade said he envisages that private companies may be granted access ‘to run some of the vital aspects ...
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NewsSouth Korea aims to become 'global railway powerhouse'
SOUTH KOREA: Following a review of the structure of the national railway, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport has put forward plans for the restructuring of Korail as a holding company. MOLIT has also set out ambitions for the rail supply industry to replicate the success of the ...
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NewsMetre-gauge services to stay in Spanish austerity plan
SPAIN: Meeting on July 5, the Spanish cabinet approved plans that aim to reduce by €4·7m in 2013 the operating loss made by passenger services on the 1 000 mm gauge network formerly operated by FEVE. The government says that this network is to be retained as a whole, with ...
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NewsVR retains long-distance passenger train monopoly
FINLAND: The Ministry of Transport & Communications has agreed to a five-year extension of VR Group's exclusive right to operate long-distance passenger services on the national network, in return for VR committing to invest in rolling stock and an obligation to operate government-specified services costing up to €21m/year. The existing ...