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
Take a Rail Belgium 2023 deep dive with our knowledge sessions
On June 6 and 7, RailTech will be hosting RailTech Belgium 2023 in Brussels. The event will showcase the Belgian rail sector and put a spot light on all current developments. A separate knowledge session...Read more
AllRail: Sweden’s night train subsidy for Stockholm – Berlin is unfair competition
The alliance of independent passenger rail companies AllRail says plans by Swedish state-owned operator SJ to extend its night train Stockholm-Hamburg to Berlin will cause unfair competition, as operator Snälltåget runs night trains on that...Read more
From patchwork to true European high-speed rail network: the costs and benefits
Current high-speed rail (HSR) lines in Europe are like islands, scattered across the continent. But what would a fully interconnected European high-speed network look like? What would it cost, and what benefits would it bring?...Read more
AllRail warns Belgian government for sustaining SNCB monopoly
AllRail, the European interest group for independent passenger rail companies, is threatening to file a complaint against the Belgian government with the European Commission. It warns that the plans to give a direct award for...Read more