Policy - VibeWire Magazine

Germany presents long-awaited rail strategy: SWL plans and big changes for DB InfraGO

Guest authors
September 22, 2025
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Patrick Schnieder, Germany’s minister of transport, has presented Berlin’s new and long-awaited rail strategy. Alongside personnel changes at the very top, Germany has proposed a…

European Shippers’ Council pushes for adoption of English as the common rail language

Marco Raimondi
September 18, 2025
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One of the main issues with interoperability in Europe regards language barriers between Member States and the lack of a universally adopted language. The European…

Sweden puts a big TAC subsidy on the table

Guest authors
September 18, 2025
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Sweden’s autumn budget proposal features a win for rail freight. The so-called special environmental compensation will get a 330 million Swedish crown boost (around 30…

Politics could derail UK rail freight

Simon Walton
September 15, 2025
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How can the sacking of an ambassador in Washington, DC, affect rail freight in Washington, CD (County Durham)? Quite radically is the possible answer. Politics…

Switzerland shifts subsidies to keep freight on rail

Marco Raimondi
September 9, 2025
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Switzerland is transferring 59 million CHF (63,2 million euros) in subsidies from accompanied combined transport (ACT) to unaccompanied combined transport (UCT). “Part of the funds…

No extra money for German TAC subsidies, DB InfraGO applies for higher charges

Guest authors
September 5, 2025
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The new German government has approved its first budget. For rail freight, the key question on the table were subsidies for track access charges (TAC).…

Combined Transport association presents policy requests to improve military mobility

Guest authors
September 3, 2025
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The Combined Transport (CT) association UIRR has outlined policy proposals to boost the sector’s capacity for military transports. Boosting the EU capacity for military mobility,…

Plans progress for expansion of Greater Manchester’s tram and train network

Guest authors
August 26, 2025
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Transport leaders have confirmed a pipeline of ‘rapid transit’ schemes for the future, with funding signed off by the Bee Network Committee earlier this week and the plans discussed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Friday 22 August. Launched as part of the Greater Manchester Strategy in July, the Mayor and local council leaders […]

Czechia exempts rail freight from ETS-2

Guest authors
August 26, 2025
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The Czech Ministry of Transport has exempted rail freight from the upcoming EU Emissions Trading System 2. In other words, there will be no carbon…

German ministry fires Deutsche Bahn CEO Richard Lutz

Guest authors
August 15, 2025
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Richard Lutz, the head of Germany’s national rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB), will soon leave his post. The German transport ministry on 14 August announced…