UK ends franchising system passenger trains as of today
The UK government has announced this morning that it will support the passenger network for at least the next 18 months. This means that it is officially renationalising the railways, doing away with the franchising...Read more
Dutch government supports public transport with investment of 740 million euros
The Dutch government has announced on Tuesday that it will keep financially supporting the public transport sector in 2021. To this end, it has announced a so-called ‘availability fee’ of 740 million for the first...Read more
Trafikverket publishes tender for night train connecting Sweden to mainland Europe
Swedish transport authority Trafikverket has recently published a tender for a night train connection between Sweden and the European mainland. Starting in 2022 the train will connect Malmö and Stockholm to Brussels and Hamburg. This...Read more
Deutsche Bahn to become carbon neutral by 2050
German national railway operator Deutsche Bahn is planning to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. To this end, it will totally convert its traction energy that will be generated from renewable sources. In terms of rolling...Read more
UK open-access operators coming back to life
Britain’s non-franchised railway companies were on the verge of extinction for four months. Now the situation has changed for the better. While Hull Trains is just returning on tracks, Grand Central is adding new connections....Read more
UK rail sector calls for reform in transport tax policy
To recover the economy from the corona crisis and to reduce carbon emissions, Britain’s government should revolutionise the transport tax policy. Such a call was made the Rail Delivery Group, an umbrella organisation for the...Read more
RegioJet applies for domestic open access in Poland
After the success of its international trains to Croatia and Hungary, Czech private railway operator RegioJet is planning to enter the Polish market. The company intends to offer the customers a long-distance train connection within...Read more
Deutsche Bahn supports fines for mask refusers
Several German states have implemented higher fines or are planning to do this for those who refuse to wear masks in public places including buses and trains. Deutsche Bahn (DB), as the national railway operator,...Read more
Polish operators deploy apiaries along tracks
More and more railway operators in Poland are setting up their own apiaries. Some of them install beehives at the building roofs but most undertakings prefer to deploy beehives along the tracks. Among the latest...Read more
SBB lacks train drivers due to corona crisis
Swiss national railway operator SBB is not able to relaunch its normal schedule. The company lacks train drivers due to some delays, caused by the corona crisis, in its recruitment and training campaigns. SBB will...Read more
Parcel lockers to be installed at British train stations
British operator Govia Thameslink Railway intends to offer its passengers a new service. By the year’s end, they will be able to pick up their parcels directly at 150 train stations. The project will be...Read more
Ride-sharing an impetus for railways
Ride-sharing could stimulate the development of the European railways. In order to facilitate this and to provide seamless mobility, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), together with its partners, is carrying out the RIDE2RAIL...Read more
Scotland will decarbonise its railways by 2045
Scotland, the constituent unit of the United Kingdom, will reach zero emission by 2045. To this end, the country’s government plans to decarbonise the railway network. Within this policy, it has scheduled massive improvements of...Read more