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
There are different ways in which countries determine segments on the rail market for infrastructure charging. LatRailNet, the Latvian charging body, organised a webinar on 17 March on railway transportation market segmentation. It was also...Read more
COLUMN – The economic viability of night trains will be insecure if no action is taken on the track access charges. The struggle of Eurostar to keep its head above water showed that high track...Read more
In recent decades, huge investments were done in Europe for the construction of high-speed lines. National networks of thousands of kilometers of track have been built. “Now the only thing left to do is to...Read more
The Polish infrastructure manager PKP PLK has withdrawn its request to increase track access charges of the network in 2022. As a result, the fees for accessing the railway network in the country remain at...Read more
The Belgian government has announced to financially support the rail freight industry. Until 30 June, a reduced tariff applies for freight trains, and cancellation and reservation costs are waived. The support scheme applies from 1...Read more
To reduce noise pollution from railways, infrastructure managers and operators are taking drastic measures for those living near the tracks. The high costs for additional noise measures could threaten to affect the competitiveness of rail...Read more
Spanish infrastructure manager Adif has awarded the contract for the supply and installation of the traffic regulation system Sitra+ on wednesday. The system has numerous advantages for traffic optimisation, punctuality and information to the passengers,...Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 more
