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Rail Articles

Scandinavian rail freight: Time for change

7 April 2015 | By Gottfried Eymer, CEO, DB Schenker Rail Scandinavia A/S

National governments have to create level playing fields between rail and road, writes Gottfried Eymer, CEO of DB Schenker Rail Scandinavia A/S. Driven by globalisation and changes within manufacturing industries, the demand for freight transportation is increasing to levels never seen before. Various things like raw materials, consumer goods and…

Competition strengthens German rail sector

7 April 2015 | By Burkhard Bastisch, Managing Director, NWL

Since access to the German rail market was open to all rail operators, competition for services has strengthened the railway’s ability to compete with other modes of transport. Burkhard Bastisch, Managing Director of NWL – the transport authority for the Westphalia-Lippe region – explains NWL’s responsibilities and policies and how…

Germany: Huge infrastructure modernisation project continues after signing of new Agreement

7 April 2015 | By Frank Sennhenn, CEO of DB Netz AG

Success of financing rail infrastructure in Germany is now in its second round. The second Performance and Financing Agreement (Leistungs- und Finanzierungsvereinbarung, ‘LuFV II’) between the government of the Federal Republic of Germany and Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG) was signed at the beginning of January 2015. The conclusion of…

Investment in rail in Britain’s industrial areas

7 April 2015 | By Paul Johnson, Research and Lobbying Assistant, the Industrial Communities Alliance

The Industrial Communities Alliance is the all-party association representing more than 60 local authorities in the industrial areas of England, Scotland and Wales. In October 2014 the Alliance published proposals for investment in rail in Britain’s industrial areas in a document called ‘Tracks to Work’. Paul Johnson, Research and Lobbying…

How are high levels of rail integrity achieved?

11 March 2015 | By

Chris Eady, Executive Director of the Institute of Rail Welding, takes a look at the topic of broken rails and rolling contact fatigue and, with quotes from Brian Whitney at Network Rail, explains why it is necessary to repeat the importance of rail integrity management.

An insight into TRAINOSE restructuring

13 February 2015 | By Dr Nikolaos Athanasopoulos, Strategic Planning Senior Advisor, TRAINOSE S.A.

TRAINOSE S.A was established in 2005 as a subsidiary of the OSE Group (the Hellenic Railways Organisation) responsible for the provision of passenger and rail freight transport. Since then it has undergone significant restructuring in order to meet EU regulations. Strategic Planning Senior Adviser Nikolaos Athanasopoulos gives an insight...

Towards a step-change in new rolling stock certification for noise

13 February 2015 | By Nicolas Furio (UNIFE), Estelle Bongini (SNCF) and Ulf Orrenius (Bombardier)

Noise pollution is an important concern. At a European level the Environmental Noise Directive (END) requires noise mapping of large agglomerations and major routes and the development of Action Plans. It is estimated that 14 million people in Europe are exposed to levels of railway noise above 55 dB Lden,…