Over €261 million will now be invested in the extension of the Athens metro Line 3, through the western suburbs of Athens to Piraeus, Greece’s third largest and most important passenger and freight port. The project, which includes the construction of six new metro stations and the supply of 17 new trains, should be operational in 2020 and serve an additional 174,000 inhabitants of Athens. Source: European Commission
The European Parliament has adopted the so called “market pillar” proposals of the Fourth Railway Package, a series of measures that will make European railway more attractive, innovative and competitive. The measures will foster the completion of the single European railway area by opening up for competition domestic rail passenger markets, improving the impartiality of infrastructure managers and strengthening national rail regulators. The package delivers on President Juncker’s agenda of a fairer and deeper internal market. Source: European Commission
UKTiE Brexit ‘news and views’, which aims to provide you with the key headlines for the week ahead in relation to Brexit, Brussels and transport, in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. We hope this news, analysis and advice will help you manage your Brexit strategy. UKTiE Brexit or 360° members can ask for more information if you wish to explore behind the headlines or require some bespoke analysis. 1. Barnier warns UK that Article 50…
UKTiE Brexit ‘news and views’, which aims to provide you with the key headlines for the week ahead in relation to Brexit, Brussels and transport, in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. We hope this news, analysis and advice will help you manage your Brexit strategy. UKTiE Brexit or 360° members can ask for more information if you wish to explore behind the headlines or require some bespoke analysis. 1. EU Brexit negotiators meet this week…
Young Europeans are on track to receive a free InterRail pass on their 18th birthday in the future. MEPs discussed the proposal and overwhelmingly supported it during a debate in plenary on 4 October. Millions of young European have travelled throughout the continent using Interrail over the last few decades, but the pass itself can cost up to hundreds of euros. Source: European Commission
Ongoing revision of aviation safety rules and preparing EU positions for the next ICAO and IMO meetings, will be the Presidency priorities, Transport, Construction and Regional Development Minister Roman Brecely told the Transport Committee on 12 July. He also stressed the need to boost take-up of electric vehicles and cycling. MEPs asked the minister about the effects of minimum wages in Germany and France on the transport single market, initiatives for road transport and decarbonisation, ensuring EU funding for transport…
The 28 EU member states and Norway and Switzerland have agreed to take action in the short-term to improve international rail freight. A special declaration to this end was signed at the annual three-day conference on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Governments will work closely with railway managers, freight carriers and consignors, freight terminals, transhippers and parties in industry to achieve the declaration’s goals. Source: Presidency of the Council
The Commission has adopted rules to create fair conditions for new train services making better use of the available rail infrastructure. Throughout the EU, rail service markets are characterised by dominant operators, which in some cases have close ties with infrastructure managers. Railway undertakings can block infrastructure for many years by way of framework agreements with infrastructure managers. In such a situation, the new rules will give better chances to operators that provide new services to get access to particular…
Interoperability Directive adopted with 39 votes in favour, 2 against and 2 abstentions. Safety Directive adopted with 37 votes in favour, 4 against and 2 abstentions. ERA Regulation adopted with 39 votes in favour, 2 against and 2 abstentions. The approval of the recommendations for three files making up the technical pillar of the fourth rail package confirms the Committee’s endorsement of the agreement reached with Council last year. This technical pillar is intended to reduce costs for rail operators…
Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (S2R JU) announced today the nomination of Carlo Borghini as its new Executive Director. Mr Borghini’s appointment comes as the JU reaches a fully operational state, with all its Members selected and the first call for research activities under way. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to congratulate Carlo Borghini on his nomination”, said Henrik Hololei, Chair of S2R JU’s Governing Board and Director General, DG Mobility & Transport at the European Commission. “Thanks to his proven experience,…