Austria has started a 250,000 support scheme for single wagon transport in Tyrol, bordering Italy. The programme has been in effect since 1 April. It is not supposed to be a one-time love affair with rail as it aims at a long-term modal shift breakup with the road. The scheme aims at “greater efficiency, a…
Category: Policy
Spain introduces new scheme to keep an eye on track access charges
Despite being one of the countries with the lower track access charges for rail freight in Europe, Spain is implementing a new scheme to supervise the fees adopted by the country’s infrastructure manager Adif. The new plan was recently approved by the Spanish National Market and Competition Commission (CNMC). If for rail freight the track…
Czechia warns: Russia is trying to sabotage European rail
The Czech transport minister has warned that Russia is trying to sabotage European rail. The minister said that Russia has made thousands of attempts to destabilise the EU and undermine critical infrastructure since the start of its war in Ukraine. It is not the first time a European official warned of Russian sabotage. Czech transport…
European transport sector calls for more EU-funding
A coalition of over 40 European transport associations is calling for additional EU funding for the sector. The European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) states that investments are necessary to reach climate and resilience targets and to safeguard supply chain sovereignty. ERFA points to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) as a ‘robust instrument’ that can facilitate…
Switzerland asks ERA to update EU contract on the use of freight wagons
In the European Union, the use and maintenance of rail freight wagons is regulated by two directives, one from 2006 for their use and one from 2019 for their maintenance. The Swiss Federal Office of Transport (FOT) is asking the European Railway Agency (ERA) to make a clear statement for the revision of the oldest…
Russia to spend an additional trillion rubles on ‘Eastern Polygon’ lines
Russia will spend an additional one trillion rubles (10 billion euros) on the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur railway lines. The extra financial injection is part of an infrastructure upgrade plan in Russia’s Far East. On 27 March, Russian Railways and the Russian transport ministry agreed on a framework for upgrades until 2035. The Russian transport ministry,…
UK logistics sector seeks rail development from next government
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK, CILT(UK), has an eye on the forthcoming General Election. Even though the date has not yet been set, the industry body is seeking to influence the manifesto’s direction. They do so regardless of who may take power in the coming year. Three of six manifesto…