Press releases
GERMANY missing big opportunity to open long distance rail market – passengers, taxpayers & environment will suffer
Earlier this month, it was announced that the German state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn ("DB") - which already has 99% share of the long distance market - will 'acquire' 30 new ICE high speed trains for 1 billion euros.
ALLRAIL launches updated website with a new visual identity & claim
ALLRAIL presents new visual identity with a new claim too “The Future of Passenger Rail” and launches an updated design for www.allrail.eu.
Securing The Comeback of Night Trains in Europe
ALLRAIL, the association of independent passenger rail companies in Europe, believes that night trains can make a great comeback. For example: as an environmentally friendly alternative to late night and early morning flights. Three new initiatives in recent weeks have shown how privately owned operators are contributing to this in a significant way.
NETHERLANDS – Lack of reciprocity within EU Single Market: The integrity of the European Union is at stake
The integrity of the European Union is at stake. Protectionism and nationalism are obstacles for a strong and united Europe. 2025 should be the date for the introduction of reciprocity in the Netherlands, not the extension of a pointless monopoly.
NEDERLAND: Gebrek aan wederkerigheid binnen de interne spoorwegmarkt van de EU
De integriteit van de Europese Unie staat op het spel. Protectionisme is een obstakel voor een sterk en verenigd Europa. 2025 zou de datum moeten zijn voor de invoering van de wederkerigheid in Nederland, niet de verlenging van een zinloos spoormonopolie.
General Assembly Meeting 2020: New Board Directors elected
ALLRAIL annual General Assembly took place on Friday 12th June. President remains Dr. Erich Forster, CEO of WESTbahn, new Vice-President become Christian Schreyer, who is Transdev CEO for North & Central Europe. The other elected Board Directors are Ian Chaplin of Omio, Peter Köhler of Leo Express, Erik Hellners of MTR, François Coart of GetLink and Matthias Müller of FlixTrain. Lord Tony Berkeley becomes Honourary Board Director.
Eigenwirtschaftlicher SPFV entscheidend für Verkehrswende: ALLRAIL, mofair und VDV werben bei Ferlemann für Unterstützung
Im neuen Konjunkturpaket des Bundes sind erhebliche Summen für den öffentlichen Ver- kehr vorgesehen. Noch nicht enthalten ist jedoch der eigenwirtschaftliche Fernverkehr auf der Schiene. Einige der meist kleinen oder mittelständischen Anbieter von Tages- und Nachtlinienverkehr, von Autoreisezügen und Charterverkehren auf der Schiene haben in den vergangenen Monaten keine Einnahmen mehr gehabt und stehen vor dem wirtschaft- lichen Aus.
COVID-19 in AUSTRIA: Temporary Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract for open access operators: New reference model for the rest of Europe
Under the EU Commission’s Temporary Framework, EU Member States are allowed to use the full flexibility foreseen under State aid rules to support the economy. Therefore, we welcome the Austrian government’s new decision to award both open access operators between Vienna and Salzburg - WESTbahn and ÖBB - with a temporary PSO order for the route1, starting today.
GERMANY: subsidy for “hot air” at DB Long Distance Trains corona crisis: financial support for long-distance passenger rail should be fair for all companies
It is now well known that the German rail incumbent Deutsche Bahn AG (‘DB’) has asked for an additional eight to ten billion euros by 2024. Our two associations - mofair, the Association of Independent Passenger Rail Operatorsin Germany, and ALLRAIL, the Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants in Europe - now demand complete transparency as to why these funds are needed and what exactly they will be used for.
SWEDEN: Result of government investigation confirms a serious problem in the rail ticket sales market. Urgent change is needed – all across Europe
Back In 2018, two new rail operators in Sweden (MTRX & Saga Rail) separately reported rail incumbent SJ to the Swedish Competition Authority (SCA) for not allowing them to be either searched for or booked on SJ’s market dominant online rail ticket sales channel. In June 2019, after a thorough investigation, the SCA acknowleged the anti-competitive effects of the situation.
COVID-19: Joint Rail Sector Press Release
The rail European associations' representing infrastructure managers, railway operators, intermodal companies, wagon keepers and the rail supply industry joint statement on COVID-19.
Ensuring the survival of new entrant passenger rail companies – proposal for a rescue plan
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented crisis for independent passenger rail companies. There has already been over a 90% drop in passengers, particularly in those cases where intra-EU borders have been closed. While understandable, the decision to shut down passenger rail has also shut down much of our members’ business activities.
A letter from the European rail sector on concrete measures to face the COVID‐19 pandemic and its economic consequences
We, the representatives of European railways, combined transport and wagon load operators, wagon keepers, workshops and mobile services associations, on behalf of our members and of the European rail and intermodal sectors would like to thank all public authorities at all levels – European, national and local ‐ for their efforts to ensure a coordinated and quick European response to the health and economic crises triggered by the COVID‐19 pandemic.
EUROPE: must tackle the impact of COVID-19 on passenger rail services
These are extraordinary times without a precedent. The coronavirus pandemic represents a global challenge that individual countries cannot manage on their own.
ALLRAIL welcomes 2021 as the “European Year of Rail”
ALLRAIL welcomes the EU Commission’s proposal to designate 2021 as the European Year of Rail to promote rail as a sustainable, innovative & safe mode of transport.
New revelation: alleged agreement between ÖBB and ČD to “eliminate” new entrant’s access to rolling stock
According a media report earlier today , the Czech state rail incumbent ČD could face a fine of up to 4 billion Czech Koruna (= €158 million) for an alleged cartel agreement that sought to “eliminate” a new entrant competitor’s access to 2nd hand rolling stock.
Verdacht auf Absprachen zwischen ÖBB und ČD, um neuen Wettbewerber von Zugriff auf Rollmaterial auszuschließen
Einem heutigen Medienbericht zufolge1 droht der tschechische Staatsbahn ČD eine Strafe von bis zu 4 Mrd. Kronen (= ca. 160 Mio. €), da sie durch Kartellabsprachen den Zugriff eines privaten Bahn-Newcomers auf gebrauchtes Rollmaterial verhindern wollte.
De twee gezichten van de Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Eerder deze maand was in het nieuws hoe de spoorwegmaatschappij Abellio Deutschland - een volledige dochtermaatschappij van de Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) - via een juridische procedure met succes heeft verhinderd dat een contract voor Duitse Intercity-treindiensten zónder openbare aanbesteding aan Deutsche Bahn (DB) zou worden gegeven, een zogenaamde “onderhandse gunning”
The Two Faces of Netherlands Railways (Nederlandse Spoorwegen)
Earlier this month, it was reminded in the news again how the German rail operator Abellio - a wholly owned subsidiary of the Netherlands Railways (NS) – has been successful in its legal action against directly awarded taxpayer subsidy being paid to Germany.
Proposed Eurostar and Thalys merger will NOT help modal shift to rail – another solution is necessary
This month, the proposed merger of North-West Europe’s two high-speed operators - Eurostar and Thalys – was again in the news, with the working name “Green Speed1. By giving itself such a name, the merger purports to champion the environment.
Podcast: ALLRAIL members on The Comeback of Night Trains in Europe
• Aleš Ondrůj, Senior Director Communications, RegioJet
• Carl Adam Holmberg, Head of Snälltåget
• Nick Brooks, Secretary General ALLRAIL
• Barbora Mičková, Policy Officer ALLRAIL
-> Recorded 17th June 2020
Links:
• YouTube
• Podcast (Spotify)
Podcast: Passenger rail after COVID-19: Update from the Member States, YouTube & Podcast discussion
After COVID-19 webinar in April 2020 ALLRAIL issued a discussion on YouTube and Podcast channels.
First episode on the impact of COVID-19 on our members:
• YouTube - Key points (10min.)
• YouTube Full version (50min.)
• Podcast (Spotify)
• Podcast (Apple)
• Podcast (Google)
ALLRAIL presentation on international passenger rail transport: How to stimulate international passenger rail?
Arthur Kamminga presented ALLRAIL vision on the topic of "How to stimulate international passenger rail?" at the Hearing on European support for international passenger rail transport at the Commission for Mobility of the Belgian House of Representatives, taking place on 17th December 2019 at the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium.
The Guardian: ‘People don’t want to fly’: Covid-19 reawakens Europe’s sleeper trains
Nick Brooks The Guardian:....governments should also prohibit airlines receiving state bailouts from operating any short-haul or late-night flights that could be done by train. “This pandemic must lead to a better appreciation for rail,” he said.
Rynek Kolejowy: Niemcy dotują DB, zamiast liberalizować rynek? Flixtrain rozważa skargę do ETS
Udzielone DB państwowe finansowanie dla zakupu taboru dużych prędkości przyczyni się do utrwalenia obecnej struktury rynku. Konkurowanie z dominującym graczem stanie się jeszcze bardziej utrudnione – ostrzega przewodniczący stowarzyszenia europejskich niezależnych przewoźników pasażerskich AllRail. W jego opinii Niemcy tracą w ten sposób dobrą okazję do otwarcia rynku przewozów dalekobieżnych.
IRJ: FlixTrain calls for action over DB rescue package
International Railway Journal: FlixTrain calls for action over DB rescue package. The CEO and co-founder of FlixTrain parent FlixBus, Mr André Schwämmlein, has written to the European commissioner for competition, Ms Margrethe Vestager, calling for measures to balance competition in the German rail market.
International Railway Journal: ALLRAIL forecasts €540m hit for private passenger rail operators
Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants says its members are facing huge drops in passenger numbers and revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic. Written by David Briginshaw, International Railway Journal.
Railway Gazette International: Westbahn and ÖBB awarded public service contracts to secure operations during the pandemic
Both Austrian Federal Railways and open access competitor Westbahn have been awarded emergency public service obligation contracts to ensure the continued operation of Wien – Salzburg trains during the coronavirus pandemic, in a move which the ALLRAIL association of new market entrants said should provide a model for the rest of Europe.
Rail Insider: Open-access train operators need government support
Allrail is concerned that open-access operators need to reduce fixed costs fast, while, at the same time, securing the necessary cashflow to sustain capacity and still deliver a few remaining services during the crisis.
International Railway Journal: ALLRAIL calls for action to prevent private operators from going out of business
The Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants (ALLRAIL) says that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented crisis for independent passenger rail operators and predicts that some could disappear as early as this month.
Railway Gazette International: ALLRAIL calls for action to save new passenger train operators
EUROPE: The coronavirus pandemic is ‘ annihilating’ the business cases of many independent passenger operators, and without urgent action the first bankruptcies could be seen this month, the ALLRAIL association of new entrants to the rail market has warned.
International Railway Journal: Westbahn in transition
Westbahn introduced a significantly reduced service at the December 2019 timetable change. While a backward step for the private operator, as CEO Dr Erich Forster reveals in an exclusive interview with Kevin Smith, in the medium-term it will aid the company’s plan to run as a viable alternative to ÖBB.
International Railway Journal: Leo Express business at risk due to coronavirus crisis
Czech private operator Leo Express is facing a dicult future after a dramatic fall in revenue due to service cutbacks introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, board member and former CEO Mr Peter Köhler has revealed to IRJ.
The Irish Times: Europe’s rail renaissance hoping to leave red tape behind
For Nick Brooks, head of the Allrail lobby group representing a dozen private rail operators in Europe, old monopoly mentalities are a major hindrance to a Ryanair of European rail. The high cost of buying track access from national operators deters would-be market entrants, he says, if they aren’t scared off already by the high cost of market entry. You can’t lease trains like planes, he says, requiring deep-pocketed operators for long-distance rail competition to succeed.
Eisenbahn.blog: Bahner im Gespräch mit Nick Brooks
Bahner im Gespräch: Mit Nick Brooks, Generalsekretär ALLRAIL (die Allianz für private Personenverkehrsunternehmen in der EU), ist auch ein Experte für den Wettbewerb am europäischen Bahnmarkt in meiner Beitragsreihe vertreten.
International Railway Journal: New entrants face a very challenging outlook in 2020
Looking ahead to 2020, the outlook remains challenging. While the European Commission has initiated no less than four EU rail liberalisation packages over the last two decades, it could still be many more years before any meaningful opening of passenger rail finally occurs.
Railway Gazette International: Italy: Transformation at Italo-NTV
These are important lessons to be learned from the remarkable business turnaround achieved by Italy’s high speed open access operator Italo-NTV in the last ve years.
