RailTech Europe ’24: Netherlands on collision course with EU over market liberalisation in rail
RailtechOn Thursday, March 7, at 11:15 a.m., the gloves will come off and proponents and opponents of market forces in rail will discuss all the possibilities and impossibilities, challenges, wishes and legislation. Secretary General of...Read more
RailTech Europe ’24: Challenges to market liberalisation in The European Union
InterviewAs one of the 12 recognized rail associations representing the rail industry at a European level, the non-governmental organisation ALLRAIL, the ‘Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants in Europe,’ has been advocating for European Union...Read more
German court rules against DB in rail ticketing lawsuit filed by Flix
In a significant legal development, the Hamburg Regional Court has handed down a judgement recognising the dominant position of Deutsche Bahn’s (DB) in-house online rail ticket vendors. The ruling, issued on December 1, stems from...Read more
European Commission urged to “show leadership” and develop a night train strategy
The Transport Ministers of Belgium, Austria and Luxembourg, as well as MEPs and numerous associations, call European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to act upon the recent renaissance of night trains and present a...Read more
Direct award to NS against European Commission’s wishes could prove costly, Dutch ministry admits
If the Netherlands goes through with awarding NS the main railway net concession without a tender process and the European court were to rule this illegitimate, the Dutch government could face a fine of at...Read more
Eurostar and five more operators join the Agreement on Journey Continuation: what does it entail?
Six new railway undertakings, including Eurostar, have or will soon join the Agreement on Journey Continuation (AJC). This multilateral agreement between European operators supports international rail passengers in reaching their final destination after they miss...Read more
Brightline launches Orlando service in Florida
Private US passenger operator Brightline launched services on its new Florida extension to Orlando this Friday. On 168 miles (270 kilometers) of new tracks, high-speed trains now run between Miami and Orlando, and Brightline has further...Read more
Plan by SNCB and SNCF for new Paris-Brussels link raises eyebrows
SNCB and SNCF Voyageurs are studying the possibility of jointly setting up a new regular passenger service using conventional trains between Brussels and Paris by the end of 2024. Their aim is to offer passengers...Read more
Brussels takes aim at the Netherlands for planning direct award to NS
The European Commission is starting an infringement procedure against the Netherlands for “failing to correctly apply” EU regulations on public transport, the European body announced on Friday. The Commission takes issue with plans for a...Read more
Czech Republic abolishes rail regulator amidst controversies, what’s going on?
The Czech government has supported a bill that will lead to the abolition of the independent Office for Access to Transport Infrastructure (ÚPDI), transferring its tasks to another institution. However, controversies and allegations surround the...Read more
Leading associations fear half-baked measures on EU ticketing regulation
10 European and international associations sent an open letter to European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans this Wednesday, after learning that the Commission is considering to downgrade its original ambition regarding upcoming regulation on ticketing....Read more
Rail market opening and Belgium: time for a discussion
While in Belgium SNCB is scheduled to receive a renewed concession for the next 10 years, the course from the European Commission in Brussels is instead to bring about more market opening on the railways,...Read more
FlixTrain plan trains to the Netherlands from next year
FlixTrain’s bright green trains that are already running in Germany and Sweden may come to the Netherlands next year. Flix notified the Dutch Consumer and Market Authority (ACM) this week and applied for track capacity...Read more