Latest Policy News
Keep up to date on the national and international policies impacting the rail industry.
-
Amtrak CEO Calls on US Congress to Support Modern, Efficient Rail Network
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn has told a Congressional Committee that America needs high-speed rail links as part of its railway infrastructure.
-
US Government Issues $1.69 Billion in COVID-19 Relief Funding to Amtrak
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has announced 1.69 billion USD in relief funding for Amtrak in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
-
Polly Trottenberg Sworn in as Deputy Transportation Secretary
Polly Trottenberg has been sworn in as Deputy Transportation Secretary, following her Senate confirmation (82-15) on 14 April 2021.
-
France Bans Domestic Flights on Routes Trains Can Reach in under 2.5 Hours
France: members of parliament in the National Assembly have voted on the climate and resilience bill which bans short-haul domestic flights.
-
What Biden's American Jobs Plan Means for Rail
Us President Biden has laid out his American Jobs Plan that will see more than $600 billion of spending on infrastructure, including rail.
-
Transport Committee Calls for Rolling Programme of Electrification
The Transport Committee has published a report, Trains Fit for the Future?, which calls for a 30-year rolling programme of electrification.
-
$908 Million USDOT Loan for Dallas Silver Line Project
The USDOT and DART have agreed a refinancing of a $908 million loan for the Silver Line that will save DART $190 million in interest payment…
-
Commission Proposes Shift2Rail Successor to European Council and Parliament
The European Commission has officially proposed the successor to Shift2Rail – Europe's Rail JU – to the European Council and Parliament.
-
Welsh Government Takes Wales and Borders Rail Franchise into Public Ownership
Following its annoucement of this plan in October 2020 the Welsh government has now taken the Wales & Borders franchise into public ownershi…
-
German Transport Ministry to Fund Private Rail Connections
The German government will provide more financial assistance to businesses wishing to connect their facilities to the rail network.
-
US Senate Confirms Pete Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary
The US Senate has confirmed Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation in the Biden Administration, with 83 votes in favour, 13 against.
-
CER: EU Railways Suffered €26 Billion Coronavirus Loss in 2020
The Voice of European Railways (CER) says railways in the EU27 made losses of 26 billion euros in 2020 because of COVID-19.
-
Amtrak CEO To Congress: These Are Our 5 Key Requests
Amtrak's CEO has written to Congress outlining the passenger railroad's five key demands to recover from COVID and expand services.
-
France to Support Eurostar and in Talks with UK Says Minister
French transport minister confirms to the National Assembly that France would make sure it supported Eurostar and was in talks with Britain.
-
Calls on Government to Protect Eurostar
There are renewed calls on the UK government to provide support to Eurostar to prevent Britain's only international rail link from folding.
-
European Commission Publishes 7th Rail Market Monitoring Report
The European Commission has published the 7th monitoring report (2015–2018) on the development of the rail market in the EU.
-
President-Elect Biden Picks Pete Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary
President-elect Joe Biden has nominated former Mayor of South Bend as his transportation secretary, a move welcomed by the rail industry.
-
Widespread Dismay over National Infrastructure Commission HS2 Proposals
The National Infrastructure Commission has published its Rail Needs Assessment report, causing widespread dismay over possible cuts to HS2.
-
Progress on the American High-Speed Rail Act
Seth Moulton introduced the American High-Speed Rail Act which proposes to invest $205 billion in the US's high-speed rail infrastructure.
-
Alstom Latest Member to Join US High Speed Rail Association
Alstom is the latest member to join the US High Speed Rail Association following Deutsche Bahn prior to Biden's inauguration.
-
Commission Presents Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy
The European Commission has presented its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy with ten flagship ideas to decarbonise transport.
-
New Night Trains in Europe from 2021
There will be new international night trains in Europe from 2021, as agreed by the bosses of Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, OEBB and SBB.
-
BNSF Wins Train Crossing Law Court Case in Oklahoma
BNSF has won a court case in Oklahoma challenging a state law banning trains from stopping for more than 10 minutes on a level crossing.
-
Brexit: EU Proposes Channel Tunnel Infrastructure and Train Licensing Extensions
Brexit: the European Commission has proposed a regulation giving extensions covering the Channel Tunnel infrastructure and train licences.