A common language for European train drivers: additional hurdle or solution?
AnalysisThe European rail sector remains divided: should there be a common language for cross-border train operations for staff such as train drivers, personnel and traffic controllers? The remarkable thing is that freight association ERFA, which...Read more
Construction works cause rail freight in Germany to be at a ‘near standstill’
The rail freight industry is deeply concerned about the disturbance on the German railway network of the last two weeks, caused by construction works. Combined with a lack of alternative capacity made available, it has...Read more‘Rail connection to European ports should be on top of the list’
The interdependency of European ports and rail freight connections has been one of the topics on board of the Connecting Europe Express. In Europe, a large share of rail freight passes through its seaports, yet...Read more
Rail sector: continue track access charging measures for six more months
Railway associations want to prolong the regulation allowing to waive, reduce or defer track access charges in the face of Covid-19. The regulation would last until the end of June, but they asked for it...Read more
Germany wants to almost nullify track access charges
Germany has proposed to continue the reduction of track access charges until the end of 2021. Interestingly, the charges will almost be nullified; from the current 50 per cent reduction it wants to move to...Read more
France to suspend track access charges
Railway undertakings in France will receive a powerful impulse from the government to relaunch their businesses. There will be zero track access charges, which will be active until the end of 2020. In order to...Read more
Key measures for future opportunity to travel around Europe by rail
In order to keep the operations going after the coronavirus pandemic, the rail sector in Europe needs support from the authorities. Therefore, several railway associations have called the European Commission and the Member States to...Read more
Rastatt one-year anniversary: where are we now?
It is exactly one year ago that the disrupted railway line at Rastatt was reopened for train traffic. The three lobby organisations ERFA, NEE and UIRR take the opportunity to highlight the lessons learnt so...Read more
EC proposes alternative language demands train drivers
The European Commission (EC) has proposed pilot projects to test alternative language requirements during railway operations. In case of a diversion train drivers may not have the language level needed for the countries on the...Read more