How do EU countries apply infrastructure performance schemes?
EU countries have common approaches to the way delays on railways are penalised. The so-called performance regimes, part of the infrastructure charging system, appear to be more similar that expected, with some differentiations left aside....Read more
Eurostar in ‘fight for survival’, calls for urgent financial support to survive Covid-19
The Eurostar and high speed rail urgently need financial support from the UK government to get through the corona crisis. This is what Eurostar CEO Jacques Damas and HS1 CEO Dyan Crowther argue in a...Read more
Pandemic-weakened EU countries unlikely to waive track access charges
Only a few EU Member States will respond to the call of new EU legislation, allowing for a waiver, reduction or deferral of track access charges as long as the pandemic lasts. There may be...Read more
Now official: track access charges may be waived during pandemic
Member States of the European Union may waive or reduce track access charges to support railway undertakings during the pandemic. The European Parliament voted in favor of this new regulation earlier today. Railway companies are...Read more
Why reduced track access charges are not enough for railways
Reduction of track access charges is becoming more and more popular in European countries. Some governments are even considering the possibility to suspend them. Of course, it is good for railway undertakings to boost their...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
Possible measures to support European railway sector
There are possibilities to support the railway sector with state aid. EU regulation allows this under the current exceptional circumstances. Railway lobby organisations have been shouting from the roof to get across this message and...Read moreWebinar: an introduction to Track Access Charges
As a result of the Fourth Railway Package, which aims to create a single European railway area, the European Commission changed regulations in 2012 concerning the railway user charges. An Implementing Regulation (EU 2015/909) formulated...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
Railways need reimbursement agreements (column)
The Track Access Charges (TACs) are one of the most significant financial sources for infrastructure managers. However, they are not applicable to recovering the infrastructure investments costs. But, in some cases, they can be a...Read more
‘Infrastructure costs influenced by many interrelated factors’
Track Access Charges is a quite complicated and important topic for the EU railways. Despite the differences between the charging systems being acted in the various Member States, they could be classified into two major...Read moreRailTech presents Track Access Charges Magazine
The editorial team of RailTech has prepared the ‘Track Access Charges Magazine’. It covers various aspects of access charging on rails. “Our editorial team has created the ‘Track Access Charges Magazine’ where you can find more...Read more
‘Level playing field across the modes is vital for European Green Deal’
Europe moves towards a zero-emission economy. This ambitious goal must be achieved by 2050 within the implementation of the European Green Deal, the new strategy of the European Union focused on improving the well-being of...Read more