Summer ticket sales skyrocket in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands
France is aiming for a new record in summer train ticket sales this summer, according to the SNCF. Last summer, the SNCF had a record-breaking summer in terms of ticket sales, with over 23 million...Read more
Belgian Minister Gilkinet talks rail challenges, night trains and more
InterviewThe Belgian federal government has “very big and positive intentions for trains and tracks”. “We want to make the train the backbone of the mobility of the future”, says Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet in an...Read more
54 per cent of the Belgian railway network is now equipped with ETCS
The European Train Control System (ETCS) has been installed on an additional 127 kilometres of Belgian tracks, pushing the share tracks equipped with ETCS well over half. The goal is to have ETCS installed on...Read more
ERA and SNCB celebrate 50,000 vehicles authorised at European level
The European Union Railway Agency (ERA) and the Belgian National Railway Company (SNCB) recently celebrated an important milestone in the implementation of the 4th railway package, with the delivery of more than 50,000 vehicle authorisations...Read more
Judge finds no issue with direct award process for Dutch Railways’ passenger services
A Dutch court has ruled against the Federation of Transport Companies (FMN) in their case against the government. The FMN had objected to the government’s aim to grant the incumbent operator, Dutch Railways (NS), another...Read more
Alstom to equip 37 Belgian SNCB locomotives with ETCS
Alstom has won a contract to design, supply and maintain onboard ETCS Level 2 signalling systems for 37 SNCB HLD77 locomotives over a period of 10 years.Read more
Fires near tracks and heat complaints: hot spell shakes up European railways
A sweltering heat wave is plaguing European railways, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees even in Northern Europe. In the south of Europe, continued high temperatures have resulted in fires that also affected train circulation. Read more
Rail traffic halted in the Netherlands, services scaled down in Germany, Belgium
Railway traffic in the Netherlands was halted on Friday afternoon due to storm Eunice. In Germany, Deutsche Bahn earlier in the day announced it would be suspending all services in the north of the country...Read more
New Belgian public service contract for NMBS criticised
AllRail, the alliance of newcomers to passenger rail transport in Europe, has strongly criticised plans by the Belgian government to once again award a public service contract to NMBS/SNCB for ten years. This would leave...Read more
Eurostar gets 291 million euro rescue package
Eurostar has reached an agreement with shareholders and banks on a refinancing package that will safeguard the company’s future. The 250 million pound (291 million euros) package consists mainly of shareholder equity and bank loans...Read more
48 million fine for rail cartel in Germany, Belgium and Austria
The European Commission has imposed fines of more than 48 million this Tuesday because Deutsche Bahn, NMBS and ÖBB have formed a cartel. Between 2008 and 2014, the companies made mutual agreements about who would...Read more
Belgian government negotiates with NMBS and Infrabel for new contracts
The Belgian government has started talks about new contracts with NMBS and Infrabel. In order to get the rail infrastructure to a higher level, a performance contract is being concluded with Infrabel. The government enters...Read more
Electrification of Belgian line near Dutch border ready in June
Infrabel has entered the final phase of the electrification of railway line 19 between Mol and Hamont in Belgium. The railway infrastructure manager expects that the 33-kilometer-long railway line can be put into use in...Read more