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Issue 6, 2011 / 6 December 2011 /
A recently published figure by the Association of Train Operating Companies provides, I think, one of the best and most revealing snapshots of the railways today. Between 26 June and 17 September 2011, 314.3 million passenger journeys took place on Great Britain’s railways – up 5.3% from the same period in 2010. It is a huge number which highlights not only the importance, and necessity, of train travel to millions of people, but also emphasises how vital it is for the rail industry to get it right, and to meet all of the challenges ahead to ensure future success.
Since joining the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) as Chief Executive in May 2011, I have frequently spoken about the many challenges, yet great opportunities, ahead for the rail sector. As the rail industry is a long-term business, the decisions taken now, and the aims and objectives set, will affect the capacity and structures of the railways for decades to come. With the demand for train travel rising in a sustained way for the first time in generations, the whole rail industry, together, must make crucial decisions which will inform the direction of travel for the railways now and in the future.
It is vital that the industry demonstrates that it is capable of meeting the challenges ahead to ensure that our railways remain one of the top performing in the world. (more…)
Issue 6, 2011 / 6 December 2011 /
On 8 September 2011, Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) inaugurated the first part of the eastern branch of the Rhine-Rhône high-speed line. Included in the design and construction of this line, with its major socio-economic challenges, was a series of innovative environmental measures to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Rhine-Rhône HSL: the project
A European dimension
The Rhine-Rhône HSL will further strengthen France’s position in a Europe that is gradually expanding towards the East. Financial support from Switzerland and EU ‘priority link’ status, under the Trans-European Transport Network programme, both underline its recognised importance at community level.
Looking at the map of the present and future European network of high-speed lines, the strategic position of the Rhine-Rhône line is immediately apparent, as a major feeder at the core of mainland Europe and as a link between the different European territories. (more…)
Issue 5 2011 / 22 September 2011 /
The Rail Value for Money Study commissioned in 2010 by Britain’s then Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, and the Office of Rail Regulation, and continued by the Coalition government, Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, was published in its final form in May 2011. It is to be followed by a government White Paper in late-2011, but in the meantime, accompanied by industry and media discussion of the Study’s recommendations – groundwork for implementation continues.
The primary conclusion, based on a top-down exercise and comparative benchmarking with railways in France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden, is that Britain’s railway should cost up to 40% less than it does and that cost savings of 30% should be achievable by 2018/2019. This would mean industry costs in that year of £8.5 billion (€9.77 billion) rather than the current £12 billion (€13.788 billion). (more…)
Issue 3 2010 / 31 May 2010 /
Steering the global recession to an upswing assumes new ideas and solutions from all economic sectors, and a well-functioning transportation system is one of the most important success factors in this process – we can accelerate growth of the economy only with efficient logistics.
The UN and IMF both forecast approximately 2.5% of average growth for global economy in 2010. This growth will naturally mean an increase in international carriage of goods, around 1% this year according to IMF estimates, but we have to focus on subsequent years of growth.
The railway system of Estonia has to function properly in both eastern and western directions. The first priority of foreign policy with respect to the Estonian railway, next to safety, is to ensure the regulatory and technical compatibility of railroads of different track widths on the European-Asian axis. (more…)
Rail industry news / 23 February 2010 /
From 22 February 2010, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) will monitor new rules to ensure rolling stock leasing companies (ROSCOs) provide train operating companies (TOCs) with transparent information. (more…)
Issue 1 2010, Past issues / 28 January 2010 /
This year, Belgium will commemorate the 175th anniversary of the inauguration of the country’s first main line between Brussels and Malines.
However, it has not always been a time for celebration on Belgium’s railway network due to the harsh fact that it experienced an undeniable slump in growth, first seen in the 1950s. The network suffered under the increased development of road transport.
Even in the 1970s concerns about the environment and the rational use of energy were not enough to make the railways recover a competitive position.
It wasn’t until the 1970s that the improvement of Belgium’s railway network finally emerged as a strong notion in order to make the country’s railway sector a front-runner in opening up markets and strengthening its internal competition. In acting like this, the rail industry was soon to follow the same trends experienced by the road, airline and naval industries. (more…)
Issue 6 2009, Past issues / 12 December 2009 /
The environment of the French Railway Industry Association (FIF) members today has become much more complex than it was in the 80s and 90s, because France, like every European country, is currently in a long-term transition phase of its railway system.
The end of the 90s marked the transition towards a new era, a transition of about 20 years and which admittedly, concerns not only France, but also, and to a similar extent, Europe.
To a great extent, the current development in Europe is due to the impetus given by the European Union, marked by the adoption and implementation of new guidelines, as well as the ‘railway packs’ in the making which have and are going to profoundly alter the rules of the game – all of this with two major objectives: harmonisation and deregulation. (more…)
Issue 4 2009, Past issues / 21 July 2009 /
In an interview for European Railway Review, Mr. Moretti gives his outlook on the European railways situation and also provides details of the important Florence to Bologna high-speed line, due to open in December 2009.
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Issue 4 2009, Past issues / 21 July 2009 /
Before new rail projects are discussed at SBB Infrastructure, the division first establishes the long-term demand and future mobility requirements of its customers in both the passenger and freight sectors.
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Issue 3 2009, Past issues / 15 May 2009 /
The Public Transport Authority (Trafikstyrelsen) is an agency within the Danish Ministry of Transport and was established on 1 July 2003. Our competence has since been extended to include the fields of ferry services and transport authorities.
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Issue 2 2009, Past issues / 26 March 2009 /
To be able to appreciate which functions the Federal Railway Authority (EBA) fulfils, it is worth taking a cursory glance at the German railway market first. Ranking high within Europe, its hallmark is the vast array of organisations.
The public railway network in Germany covers some 38,000km of route, a good 20,000km of which are electrified by Germany’s standard 15 kV and 16 2/3 Hz current system. This route network is looked after by approximately 160 public infrastructure operators, just under 33,000km of the network being operated by DB Netz AG.
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Issue 1 2009, Past issues / 23 January 2009 /
The Norwegian Railway Inspectorate (Statens jernbanetilsyn) was established in 1996 to safeguard public interest with respect to safety and to enforce the railway law and regulations. In Norway, safety is the responsibility of the individual railway companies.
Until 1996, the state-owned railway (NSB) comprised infrastructure management, development and maintenance as well as railway operations. The company was also responsible for the regulations, both development and enforcement. For all practical purposes the NSB was the only passenger train and freight train operator on the national network until then.
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