Hyperloop pioneers establish first international Hyperloop Association
Hyperloop developing companies Hardt, Hyperloop One, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Nevomo, TransPod, Swisspod Technologies, and Zeleros joined forces to form ‘The Hyperloop Association’, the first global association within the hyperloop industry, the companies announced this week. Read more
Plans for standard gauge in all EU member states to be ready by 2025-26
The European Commission wants all new railways be built to the standard European gauge, and member states have been given until 2025-26 to come up with a plan to adopt the 1435 mm gauge. That...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
European Commission signs off on 180-million-euro Czech rail support scheme
The European Commission approved a package worth 180 million euros to support rail operators using electric traction last week. The Czech measure targets improving the environmental performance of rail. However, it is also critical in...Read more
Hydrogen and hyperloop in European Commission’s work programme
The European Commission has pledged support for hydrogen and hyperloop technology in its 2023 work programme conveyed to the European Parliament this month.Read more
Railways agree on follow-up journey without extra costs in case of missed connection
Fifteen railway companies, including Deutsche Bahn, Renfe, SNCF, Trenitalia and ÖBB, have agreed on offering rail passengers who miss their connecting international train due to a delay a place on the next possible train without...Read more
‘European rail operators given until year-end to present ticketing system, otherwise EU will mandate it’
European railways have been given until the end of this year to come up with a ticketing system that is accessible to all via an app, European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans has said in a...Read more
European gauge proposal: unreasonable or strategic for Finland?
Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka has called the recent proposal by the European Commission on the European standard rail gauge “unreasonable”. The views of Finnish officials and experts vary, but specifically the...Read more
Alstom concludes divestments to CAF as part of commitment package
Alstom last week concluded the final divestments to CAF as part of its commitments to the European Commission. The move was required in order to secure final clearance for Alstom’s 2021 takeover of Bombardier Transportation.Read more
EU wants standard European track gauge for all member states
The European Commission wants to beef up Europe’s internal transport connectivity and to that end has suggested that all new railways be built to the standard European gauge. The news came with the proposal announced...Read more
Romania approves plan to purchase hydrogen trains
The Romanian Transport Ministry endorsed the procurement of twelve hydrogen trains on Wednesday. The trains will be financed by the country’s recovery and resilience plan, with funding from the EU.Read more
ETS revision with direct benefits for rail adopted by European Parliament
The EU Parliament’s plenary session on Wednesday, 22 June, voted in favour of revising the EU Emissions Trading System. In practice, this means that the ETS will include emissions from all transport modes, while its...Read more
‘ERTMS deployment is stuck in a vicious circle’
The on-board roll out of ETCS is behind schedule because there is little incentive for operators to invest in the system when they can still run on class-B systems, says Marcin Wojcik, Policy Officer at...Read more