DB Cargo is attempting to improve its loss-making performance, and plans entail restructuring the company’s business. In doing so, Europe’s largest freight operator aims to outsource a large part of operations to other companies, some of them DB subsidiaries. This process will open the way for DB to focus closely on the remaining operations by […]
Category: Policy
UK Draft Rail Reform Bill published to mixed reaction
The 32-page draft Rail Reform Bill very much escaped, rather than launched, on Tuesday, 20 February. On what editors would call “a busy news day”, the procedural legislative launch of a pre-legislative document was somewhat shunted off the front pages. However, the placing before Parliament of a singularly significant set of proposals was eagerly scrutinised […]
European Parliament clears path for revised TEN-T guidelines
In a significant move towards modernising Europe’s transportation infrastructure, the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee has embraced the compromise text on the Revision of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Guidelines. This milestone sets the stage for adoption by the European Parliament Plenary ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections, followed by anticipated approval by […]
Manifesto for Rail to be keynote at George Bradshaw Address
Prioritise getting freight off roads and onto rail is the unsurprising manifesto pledge from Rail Partners, the influential policy and lobby group, representing operators in the freight and passenger sectors in the UK rail industry. They have published a new document, “Manifesto for Rail – A five-point plan to create a thriving railway”. The manifesto […]
Kazakhstan calls for Kazakh Railways reform after frequent rail fee hikes
The parliament of Kazakhstan wants to reform its national rail operator Kazakh Railways (KTZ). The parliament filed a request to remove infrastructure management from the company’s competencies and to increase procedural and strategic transparency. The request follows years of rail fee hikes that raise concern about the country’s competitiveness. As rail freight increasingly transits Kazakhstan […]
Kazakhstan calls for Kazakh Railways reform after frequent rail fee hikes
The parliament of Kazakhstan wants to reform its national rail operator Kazakh Railways (KTZ). The parliament filed a request to remove infrastructure management from the company’s competencies and to increase procedural and strategic transparency. The request follows years of rail fee hikes that raise concern about the country’s competitiveness. As rail freight increasingly transits Kazakhstan […]
MEPs approve Weights and Dimensions Directive to rail’s dismay
The Weights and Dimensions Directive (WDD), part of the Greening Freight Transport Package (GFTP), has been approved by the EU Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee on Wednesday, 14 February. The Committee voted in favour of the legislative proposal by 26 votes to 11 and one abstention. Unfortunately, the green light came without considering remarks made […]
Polish farmers to block all Ukrainian freight transport
Polish farmers will organise new blockades of Ukrainian freight. This time around, they will block all border crossings between Poland and Ukraine, seaports and rail hubs. The intensified blockades are supposed to start on 20 February. Polish farmers are protesting the relaxation of import and transit restrictions on Ukrainian goods by the EU. The lifting […]
Polish farmers to block all Ukrainian freight transport
Polish farmers will organise new blockades of Ukrainian freight. This time around, they will block all border crossings between Poland and Ukraine, seaports and rail hubs. The intensified blockades are supposed to start on 20 February. Polish farmers are protesting the relaxation of import and transit restrictions on Ukrainian goods by the EU. The lifting […]
Out of sight, out of mind: the Netherlands falling behind on rail freight
The Netherlands desperately lack a vision for rail freight. That is the message of Hans-Willem Vroon, director of RailGood, a Dutch organisation promoting the interests of the rail freight sector. The Dutch government fails to deliver sound rail freight policy, has ignored a parliamentary proposal and sector appeals, and risks falling behind the rest of […]