Press Releases
France: Launch of 1st Competitively Tendered Regional PSO Rail Concession Operated by an Independent Operator
We warmly congratulate the independent operator Transdev and the French Région Sud (South Region) on the official launch of the Marseille-Toulon-Nice passenger rail service on 29 June 2025.
This is the first time in France that a regional Public Service Obligation ("PSO") rail concession has been awarded to and is operated by an independent operator, following a competitive tender.
This is a major milestone in EU rail reform.
New EU-UK Deal: It’s Time to Remove the Trade Barriers in Rail
As the United Kingdom and the European Union met yesterday in London for a high-profile summit to reset their relationship, one sector stands out where closer alignment would bring immediate, tangible benefits: Rail.
To bring the UK into the Single European Railway Area (‘SERA’) would embrace a forward-looking, practical partnership that delivers for citizens, businesses, and the climate.
Dominant Rail Ticket Platforms Steer To Vertically Integrated Operators – It Is Time For Unbundling
Get Europe’s high-speed rail on track: open the market, fix ticketing
On 15 April 2025, ALLRAIL joined the Implementation Dialogue on high-speed rail, hosted by EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas, to discuss how to improve high-speed rail connectivity across Europe.
Newcomer Gemini Announces Plans to Operate Through the Channel Tunnel
Gemini is a new operator that plans to offer competitive fares and high-quality, long-distance high-speed rail services between the EU and the United Kingdom, using the Channel Tunnel.
Le nouvel opérateur Gemini annonce son intention d’opérer des liaisons trans-Manche
Gemini est un nouvel opérateur qui prévoit de proposer des tarifs compétitifs et des services ferroviaires à grande vitesse de haute qualité sur longues distances entre l’Europe continentale et le Royaume-Uni, en empruntant le tunnel sous la Manche.
A New ERA Regulation for a Changing European Railway Landscape
The Association of European Rail Rolling Stock Lessors (AERRL) and the Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants (ALLRAIL) are joining forces to advocate for a new vision for European rail transport. This comes at a crucial time, as the European Commission is preparing a revision of the Regulation on the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA). As the rail sector continues to evolve, both new entrants and rolling stock lessors call for an updated Regulation that reflects these developments and supports the future growth of European rail transport.
DONATION APPEAL – Three Years Since the Unprovoked Invasion of Ukraine
Yesterday was the sombre anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Our work to help Ukraine continues – please support it financially.
Another New Commercially Driven Night Train Crossing Several EU Borders
Last week, the independent operator European Sleeper launched a new direct rail service between Belgium and the Alps – stopping in the Netherlands, Germany and Austria along the way.
Czech Republic: the Single EU Rail Market at Risk of Existing in Name Only
2025: New Year, New Opportunity
With a new EU Commission and new governments in some key countries, innovators in passenger rail are keen to create modal shift.
However, historical regulation is holding back the market - 2025 is a new opportunity to push ahead with market opening.
Norges politikk for persontogtrafikk er basert på feil premisser – nå må ESA handle
Norway’s Passenger Rail Policy is Based Upon False Premises – Now the ESA Must Act
Germany: Council of Economic Experts Calls for Unbundling of Rail Infrastructure Manager and Operator
Next MFF and CEF 3: The EU Must Avoid Funding ‘White Elephants’ By Ensuring Optimal Use
The New Direct Award To Dutch Railways (NS) Will Cost More – For Both Passengers And Taxpayers
Netherlands: The government has directly awarded a new 9-year Public Service Obligation contract (‘PSC’) to state-owned NS to operate the Main Rail Network from 2025 until 2033.
But it is still not finalised: an infringement procedure is ongoing. Market opening would be better - for both passengers & taxpayers.
De Onderhandse Gunning Van Het Hoofdrailnet Aan NS Gaat Meer Kosten – Voor Zowel Reizigers Als Belastingbetalers
De Nederlandse overheid heeft een 9-jarige hoofrailnetconcessie voor de periode 2025 tot en met 2033 onderhands gegund aan NS.
Maar het is nog niet definitief: er loopt een inbreukprocedure. Marktopening zou beter zijn - zowel voor de reizigers als voor de belastingbetalers.
French Railways SNCF Calls for “Equal Conditions” in Spain – But Will These Be Ensured in France as well?
La SNCF réclame des “conditions égales” en Espagne – mais le seront-elles aussi en France?
Joint Statement: Flying from Germany to New York? More Choice & Better Rights Than on EU Trains
New EU Competitiveness Compass Plan Must Ensure Faster Time to Market in Rail
The EU can create competitiveness globally – but only if it has competitive markets within its own border first of all.
ALLRAIL welcomes the Commission’s fine on ČD and ÖBB for anti-competitive behaviour against a new entrant
Open Access is Now – Private Investment is Proven to Grow the Rail Sector IF Certain Barriers to Entry Are Broken Down
Now, just 2 and a half years after its launch, Lumo is already profitable and significantly boosting the profits of its parent company, First Group.
What is the difference to the EU?
▶ In the UK, there is impartial retail – All Rail Tickets Sold At All Rail Ticket Vendors – e.g. it is regulated that LNER sells Lumo (and vice-versa). The priority is Full Transparency for passengers.
▶ There is a vibrant rolling stock market. Despite being entirely Open Access, Lumo has a brand-new fleet, funded by a leasing company.
▶ Track Access Charges are much lower, especially for new Open Access services - unlike the 17.7% increase that is foreseen in Germany next year.
Conclusion: Open Access works – but sadly, we are still a long way from achieving Lumo-style newcomers in the EU.
EU Rail Capacity Management Needs 6 Key Success Factors
The EU needs to move from annual, manual and national system to a flexible, digital and European one. There must be cooperation in a competitive market.Therefore, there are Six Key Success Factors that are necessary.
Joint statement on the Agency becoming a registration entity for railway vehicles
AERRL, ALLRAIL, CER, EAL, EIM, ERFA, UIP, UIRR and UNIFE support the implementation of the centralised registration function as the European Vehicle Register (EVR) defined in the Commission Implementing Regulation 2018/1614 of 25 October 2018 and the corresponding transfer of the relevant data of registered vehicles from the National Vehicle Registers to the EVR.
Special Statement about Brightline in the USA
22 September 2023: today, the privately owned passenger rail operator Brightline will start regular, scheduled Intercity services between the two largest transport hubs in Florida: Miami and Orlando.
ALLRAIL congratulates Brightline on the milestone that it has achieved today and hopes that this will be the start of a new era of privately owned operators playing a major role in the US Intercity rail market.
Special statement on the EU Commission’s revised Interpretative Guidelines for public service obligations in land transport
ALLRAIL supports the EU Commission's new Interpretative Guidelines concerning Regulation (EC) 1370/2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road, that were published on 22nd June 2023.
European rail sector’s joint statement on the revised Taxonomy Delegated Acts
ALLRAIL, together with the Community of the European Railways and Infrastructure Companies (CER), the European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM), the European Rail Freight Association (ERFA), the International Union of Wagon Keepers (UIP) and the European Rail Supply Industry (UNIFE), issued recommendations to the European Commission regarding its proposal for amending the Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act and the Taxonomy Disclosures Delegated Act.
We, the European rail sector, reaffirm our readiness to work with EU Institutions to make the EU Taxonomy successful.
[Joint Statement] Multimodal Digital Mobility Services – Ambition needed to increase consumer choice and ease sustainable travel
The undersigned organisations, representing diverse interests from across the mobility sector (such as consumers, business travelers, rail new entrants, travel intermediaries) express their strong support for the EU Commission's upcoming initiative on a Regulation on Multimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS).
However, we voice our strong concerns regarding the presented scope of obligations for transport operators. To fully achieve its ambitious objectives, the MDMS Regulation must cover relevant players of all modes, meaning those with a certain degree of market power.
Sector statement on Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC)
On 21 September 2022 at the Innotrans trade fair in Berlin, the European railway sector (including ALLRAIL) handed over the Sector Statement on Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) to the European Commission, represented by DG MOVE's Director General Henrik Hololei.
This Sector Statement on the DAC showcases the need and the advantages to roll-out this innovative device across the European railway system in an accelerated and concerted manner, presents the commitment of the European railway sector and calls the European Commission, the Members States and the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) to action.
RegioJet sees national obstacles grow for cross-border trains, not decline: ‘Far from a European rail system’
As a member of ALLRAIL, the association of independent rail operators, RegioJet says it continues to advocate genuine liberalization, cross-border harmonization and a single European rail market. For the time being, however, it warns that the gap between policy and practice continues to widen.
Incentive scheme aims to increase international trains on HS1
The scheme was welcomed by Nick Brooks, Secretary General of the AllRail alliance of New Entrants to the passenger market. He said it ‘is a move in the right direction, because it is a non-discriminatory development that treats all operators the same way, helping new services with high up-front investment costs to shoulder the burden in the ramp-up period’.
ScotRail pilloried over economic claims
ALLRAIL remarks how the Scottish government cancelled competitive tendering among public and private operators and reverted to a state-owned operator with a directly awarded exclusive contract subsidised by the Scottish taxpayer….
But ticket prices have risen at more than double the rate of inflation. Hundreds of services were cut as part of a ‘temporary’ timetable that lasted four months. No new trains have been ordered, leaving Scotland with one of Europe’s oldest and most polluting rail fleets. Punctuality has worsened compared to the previous competitively tendered service.
Gemini announces cross-Channel passenger train ambitions
Commenting on Gemini’s announcement, the ALLRAIL alliance of new entrants the passenger market said it "welcomes all newcomers — they will bring more choice and more trains to a market that is chronically under served."
ALLRAIL calls for a review of ERTMS
According to a joint statement from ALLRAIL, AERRL, and ERFA, the costs of deploying ETCS have become unsustainable, and the current implementation of ERTMS is jeopardising the competitiveness of the European rail sector. ALLRAIL, is calling for urgent reform to avoid a "paralysis" of the market.
European rail group knocks Amtrak’s views on privatization
In this article for the US passenger rail sector, ALLRAIL stresses how, in the EU, private and public and private operators compete with each other by enhancing service, offering better fares, punctuality, amenities and more. Without any similar competitive pressure, Amtrak will lack the incentive to innovate.
First et ALLRAIL donnent la priorité au libre accès
Selon un nouveau rapport, la pression exercée sur les opérateurs à accès libre, en particulier en Grande-Bretagne, devrait être remise en question. L’Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants, plus connue sous le nom de groupe de pression ferroviaire européen AllRail, s’est prononcée en faveur des opérateurs à accès ouvert sur l’ensemble du continent.
FirstGroup makes its case for open access alongside Great British Railways
UK: FirstGroup has published Moving Forward Together: Why open access is essential for a better railway, a report setting out its case for retaining a ‘thriving’ open access sector as part of the restructured railway.
Sie kämpfen in Brüssel für die Eisenbahn
In einer Serie stellt Tagesspiegel Background einflussreiche EU-Lobbyisten der Mobilitätsbranche vor. Im letzten Teil geht es um die Bahnbranche.
Nick Brooks (ALLRAIL)
Der Verband ALLRAIL ist gemeinnützig und vertritt unabhängige Personenverkehrsunternehmen und Tickethändler. Das gemeinsame Ziel der 17 ALLRAIL-Mitglieder ist die Schaffung eines einheitlichen europäischen Bahnbinnenmarktes, den es nach vier EU-Eisenbahnpaketen „noch lange nicht gibt“, so Generalsekretär Nick Brooks im Background-Porträt“
Associação europeia pede intervenção contra “canibalização” do mercado pelo novo passe ferroviário
"O preço extremamente baixo do novo passe ferroviário é claramente insustentável; irá canibalizar todas as tentativas de abertura do mercado", sustenta a associação ALLRAIL.
Ekspert: Tog-typerne skal hoste op med data, så transportrevolutionen kommer tilbage på skinner
”Det, som vi ultimativt har brug for i Europa ifølge os er et system, en eller flere digitale platforme, som giver passagerer muligheden for at tage fra én jernbanestation til en anden et sted i EU,” lyder det fra Nick Brooks.
Han er generalsekretær i Allrail, en sammenslutning af selvstændige passagertogselskaber, der arbejder som en NGO for at skabe mere åbenhed blandt jernbaneselskaber i Europa.
The people behind the wheel: Nick Brooks’ story, ALLRAIL
Nick Brooks, Secretary General of ALLRAIL, shares his insights on the challenges, successes and future innovations in the rail industry, highlighting the importance of liberalisation, innovation and private investment in shaping a sustainable and customer-focused rail sector.
Europe was on the brink of a night train revolution. Here’s what actually happened
Nick Brooks, secretary general of ALLRAIL, a pressure group representing non-state train operators, told CNN that national rail companies have an unfair advantage over new entrants.
“Politicians must be clear: the night train market will be effectively closed for a very long time,” he says. “This runs contrary to the goals of the single EU rail market – which is madness when a clear and efficient alternative model already exists.”
ALLRAIL: CEF will only be optimised with modern rolling stock
The proposed strategic investment in rail infrastructure in the recently announced Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) grants will only be optimised if there are modern, interoperable trains that can use it, says The Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants (ALLRAIL).
Are you also looking in vain for the website where you can buy a train ticket to Spain? There are many reasons for this
According to (ALLRAIL Secretary General) Nick Brooks, this is due to an important difference between air and rail transport: "It is not possible to go directly from place to place by train because there are different signal systems in Europe."
"You can't just take a train and set it down on some random tracks somewhere in Europe," he explains. He also believes that a different policy is needed - indeed he even calls it 'a revolution' - in the train area, also in the ticketing system:
"It is our wish that all train tickets can be displayed and sold at all train operators and at independent train portals so that you have a fully accessible train ticket system. Only then will train travel really flourish."
"The national train companies are satisfied with things as they are. There is very little competition. If I asked 100 people in Denmark where they would buy their train tickets, 97 would answer DSB. They have a huge market share, and therefore they have no incentive to change anything."
PBS TV Report on GURTF Delegation to Ukraine
In January 2024, the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force delegation visited Kyiv, accompanied by representatives from WE AID and Rail Partners, to present a donation cheque of €130,000 to the rail workers of Ukrainian Railways.
This event was covered In July 2024 by PBS News.
Competition will solve US passenger rail stagnation
"In the United States, competition in the intercity rail market is the answer to the almost unusable Amtrak network. The independent non-profit association, ALLRAIL, has called for the federally bankrolled operation to face competition from the private sector. The call from the association comes as the influential Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has heard that Amtrak’s accounts are almost as unreliable as their timetable".
ALLRAIL: Without full transparency, a single standard for ticket distribution is pointless
ALLRAIL have issued a statement, arguing for full transparency when implementing a single standard for ticket distribution.
EU state aid rule changes aim to simplify support for sustainable transport
Armand DUTHIL of ALLRAIL said "there are some very promising elements", including "long overdue guarantees" for SMEs buying or leasing rolling stock. However, ALLRAIL has concerns about freight PSOs and the rules potentially allowing operational aid for incumbents starting new services.
Sweet dreams vs rail nightmares
“While the lop-sided nature of the financing market persists, there must be correctional action,” says Mr Nick Brooks, secretary general of the Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants (AllRail).
“All rolling stock operators should receive the same financing terms as state-owned rail incumbents, if necessary, with a similar type of state-backed guarantee. This should remain the case until the rail financing market achieves a similar level of maturity as, say, the aviation or bus sector.”
ALLRAIL at the Benelux Union Workshop: Open the Market
This week, our colleague Arthur Kaminga attended the Benelux Union workshop on cross-border rail which took place in Brussels.
Bestowment of the insignia of Chevalier of the National Order of Merit
On 4th June 2024, Laurent Mazille, Public Affairs Director at Transdev, received the insignia of Chevalier of the National Order of Merit during a ceremony at the French Senate.
ALLRAIL Advocates for Impartial Ticketing at 13th International Railway Summit
ALLRAIL speaks at 13th International Railway Summit, in the session "Integrated ticketing: seamless cross-border and multimodal travel.
ALLRAIL takes part in Envision.2025, the annual global travel conference organised by our member Trip.com Group
Together with other prominent European rail sector players, ALLRAIL’s Secretary General Nick Brooks participated in the Envision.2025 Global Conference held in Shanghai.
ALLRAIL participates in EU workshop on reducing the cost of high-speed rail construction
On 20–21 May 2025, Aurélie Csizmazia, representative of ALLRAIL, attended the Joint Workshop on Reducing the Cost of High-Speed Rail Construction in Madrid.
ALLRAIL joins Implementation Dialogue on high-speed rail
On 15 April 2025, ALLRAIL joined the Implementation Dialogue on high-speed rail, hosted by EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas, to discuss how to improve high-speed rail connectivity across Europe.
ALLRAIL takes part in the 15th Florence Intermodal Forum on the upcoming Single Digital Booking and Ticketing Regulation
ALLRAIL Secretary General Nick Brooks took part in 15th Florence Intermodal Forum, co-organised by the Florence School of Regulation, and by the European Commission.
Presentation of the Ramboll night train study on 31.03.25
ALLRAIL President Elmer van Buuren attended the presentation of the ‘Study on the ecological and overall social balance of night train transport by rail in an intermodal and intramodal comparison’ commissioned by BMDV, the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport.
ALLRAIL at the Transport Ticketing Global Conference 2025
ALLRAIL's Secretary General, Nick Brooks, attended the Transport Ticketing Global conference (#ttglobal2025) in London, held at the sunlit Olympia Exhibition Centre on 5 March 2025.
ALLRAIL at The George Bradshaw Reception 2025
The United Kingdom-based non-profit rail association Rail Partners hosted The George Bradshaw Reception 2025, in London.
2025 Quarter One Hybrid Board of Directors meeting
Our hybrid Board of Directors' meeting for the 1st Quarter of 2025 took place both online and at our office in Brussels.
ALLRAIL takes part in lunch event hosted by the Representation of the European Region Tyrol – South Tyrol – Trentino
ALLRAIL's President Elmer van Buuren and Secretary General Nick Brooks took part in an informal networking lunch hosted by the Representation of the European Region Tyrol - South Tyrol - Trentino at its office in Brussels.
ALLRAIL celebrates launch of European Sleeper’s new service between Belgium and the Alps
The ALLRAIL team (Nick Brooks, Katharina Dekeyser, Salim Benkirane and Aurélie Csizmazia) celebrated the launch event of the independent operator European Sleeper's new long-distance service between Belgium and the Alps, crossing several internal EU borders along the way.
ALLRAIL President Elmer van Buuren Speaks at “Rail for Real” Event in Brussels
On February 4, 2025, ALLRAIL’s President, Elmer van Buuren, spoke at the event “#BeersPoliticsEU: Rail for Real, How can we fix EU crossborder railways?” in Brussels.
ALLRAIL President Elmer van Buuren speaks at the RailNetEurope (RNE) Summit on Capacity Regulation
Elmer van Buuren highlighted the need to fully implement of 2016 EU 4th Railway Package; the unused IT tools by IMs; the Council position on the draft regulation and the potentially unbalanced commercial conditions for operators.
ALLRAIL takes part in First Rail’s Open Access Report Launch Event
On Monday 20 January, 2025, our colleagues Nick Brooks and Aurélie Csizmazia attended the launch event of the new First Rail Open Access Report in London.
PBS TV Report on GURTF Delegation to Ukraine
In January 2024, the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force delegation visited Kyiv, accompanied by representatives from WE AID and Rail Partners, to present a donation cheque of €130,000 to the rail workers of Ukrainian Railways.
This event was covered In July 2024 by PBS News.
ALLRAIL’s Salim Benkirane interviewed on ITV
Salim was interviewed by the British leading TV channel ITV
ALLRAIL Podcast Series | #1 Introduction
ALLRAIL's Secretary General Nick Brooks introduces to our new ALLRAIL podcast series, in which we will discuss the latest policy developments in passenger rail transport in Europe.
Railway Gazette Events: The Future of Passenger Rail
We consider the future of passenger rail in the 2020s. There can be little doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has shaken faith in public transport, but rail remains fundamentally attractive for its ability to move people efficiently with minimal land take and an extremely low carbon footprint. This discussion will assess the outlook for passenger operators and how they might adjust to a ‘new normal’.
ALLRAIL online press conference (23rd September) – Passenger rail facing the second wave of COVID-19
Fair competition in the rail sector is crucial to securing EU climate change goals and sustainable recovery
Panelists: Erich Forster, President ALLRAIL & CEO WESTbahn
Christian Schreyer, Vice-President ALLRAIL & Transdev CEO for North & Central Europe
Nick Brooks, Secretary General ALLRAIL
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.