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
CPK high-speed project obtains 64-million-euro EU grant
Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK)’s 140-kilometre-long high-speed railway line project between Warsaw and Łódź has obtained almost 64 million euros of funding from the European Union (EU). The high-speed line will connect the new CPK airport...Read more
Ukraine can now fund transport projects via CEF
An agreement between the EU Commission and Ukraine allows the second to benefit from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funds. The deal, which was signed earlier this week, is an important milestone towards post-war Ukrainian...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
Over half of new railway cars lack ETCS: ‘no business case’
54 per cent of new vehicles put into operation between 2015 and 2019 were done so without ERTMS onboard units being equipped. This is in contrast with the ambition of the EU to gradually implement...Read more
‘EU ambition for alternative fuels in rail could be higher’
The EU Regulation proposal for alternative fuels infrastructure now includes rail. While rail was first not included in the scope of the European Commission’s proposal, it is now after negotiations and efforts of the European...Read more
EU intervention for ticketing? These are the different views
The EU wants to improve ticketing for multimodal services, and is working on new regulation. For some, this is long-overdue progress, others question its necessity and draw attention to issues to avoid. RailTech attended a...Read more
EU delegation in Athens to discuss increasing safety of Greek railways
On Wednesday, a week after the fatal railway collision near Larissa, a European delegation travelled to Athens to meet Greek Authorities and talk about what technical support for the modernisation and improvement of the safety...Read more
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