ALLRAIL welcomes yesterday’s announcement of the European Commission’s High-Speed Rail Plan — an important step towards a more connected rail system that all parts of society can afford. The plan rightly recognises that the success of Europe’s high-speed network depends on it being open, interoperable and competitive, so that every European can benefit.
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Last month, the New Statesman published a booklet highlighting the significant benefits that open access operators continue to provide on Britain’s railways. It is clear that open access operators, in competition with each other and with the state-owned operator LNER, have delivered for customers and communities. |
As Trilogue negotiations advance, ALLRAIL takes this opportunity to highlight key concerns regarding Commercial Conditions, a crucial element in shaping the future of the European rail market and the future Regulation on Rail Capacity Management.
At the weekend, Greater Anglia (GA) — one of Britain’s most successful rail operators — transferred to public ownership, under the government’s plan to renationalise passenger rail.
The announcement that the Paris–Vienna night train will be cancelled is yet another example of how Europe continues to fail at making cross-border passenger rail work. ALLRAIL fully supports night trains – several of our members operate them successfully. But this cancellation exposes two persistent structural problems that keep Europe’s cross-border rail sector stuck in the past.
Bringing train operations under public control was meant to facilitate closer working between SWR and infrastructure manager Network Rail to deliver better outcomes for customers. The recent performance figures simply do not bear this out.
200 years ago, the world’s first train ran between Stockton and Darlington – a private initiative that showed how bold ideas could transform mobility and society. As the UK celebrates this anniversary, the government plans to centralise the system under Great British Railways (GBR). But with no clear KPIs, untested promises of savings, and fares set to rise by a whopping 5.8% next March, a giant new public body risks delivering less choice and little innovation.
This week, in its newly published document “Key Points for the Reform of Deutsche Bahn” , the German Federal Ministry of Transport said that it: “expects that the DB Navigator app, together with its associated online presence, will be transferred to the responsibility of DB InfraGO AG in order to strengthen the common good and competition neutrality". This is encouraging, and it must include ticket sales as well.
ALLRAIL is delighted to announce that John Thomas is joining the ALLRAIL team on 8 September 2025, as our Policy Director.
Een nieuw wetsvoorstel dat momenteel besproken wordt in de Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in België, wil systematisch voorrang geven aan binnenlandse passagiersdiensten die worden uitgevoerd in het kader van openbare dienstverplichtingen (PSO) - zoals de diensten van de nationale operator NMBS - boven commerciële en internationale treindiensten.
Hoewel het doel wellicht is om het binnenlandse spoorvervoer te beschermen, druist deze aanpak fundamenteel in tegen het principe van eerlijke, niet-discriminerende toegang tot de spoorweginfrastructuur.
Un projet de loi actuellement examiné à la Chambre des représentants vise à accorder systématiquement la priorité aux services nationaux de transport de personnes exécutés dans le cadre d’un contrat de service public (CSP), tels que ceux assurés par la SNCB, au détriment des services ferroviaires commerciaux et internationaux.
Bien que l’intention affichée soit de protéger les services nationaux, cette approche contrevient fondamentalement aux principes d’accès équitable et non discriminatoire à la capacité de l’infrastructure ferroviaire.
A new proposal currently under discussion in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives seeks to give systematic priority to domestic passenger services operated under Public Service Obligations (PSO) - such as those provided by the national operator NMBS/SNCB - over commercial and international train services.
While the intention may be to protect domestic rail services, the approach fundamentally contradicts the principles of fair, non-discriminatory access to railway infrastructure.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As Trilogue negotiations advance, ALLRAIL takes this opportunity to highlight key concerns regarding Commercial Conditions, a crucial element in shaping the future of the European rail market and the future Regulation on Rail Capacity Management.
The EU can create competitiveness globally – but only if it has competitive markets within its own border first of all.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New Statesman has published a new Report today on Open Access rail in the country, and our Policy Director John Thomas has contributed to it.
Commenting on Belgium’s proposed ‘domestic-first’ rule for train paths, ALLRAIL said it “breaches non-discriminatory access and limits passenger choice, Belgium should expand capacity, not restrict it.”
ALLRAIL wordt vermeld in een recent artikel van Duurzaam Mobiel.
Het artikel bespreekt het spanningsveld tussen openbare dienstverlening en vrije toegang tot het spoor, naar aanleiding van een resolutievoorstel in de Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers dat prioriteit wil geven aan binnenlandse ODV-treinen. In plaats van de toegang van openaccess-exploitanten te beperken, zou België moeten inzetten op meer spoorcapaciteit en eerlijke concurrentie – in het belang van álle reizigers.
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.
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’.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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“
"O preço extremamente baixo do novo passe ferroviário é claramente insustentável; irá canibalizar todas as tentativas de abertura do mercado", sustenta a associação ALLRAIL.
”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.
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.
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.”
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).
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."
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.
On 5 November, an event on the Future of EU Rail Ticketing took place at the European Parliament, hosted by TRAN Vice-Chair Sophia Kircher with the participation of MEP Kai Tegethoff. The discussion brought together Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, passenger rights organisations, and independent rail operators to address one of the biggest barriers to a true Single Market for Rail: the lack of fair, transparent, and innovative ticketing.
At the weekend, Greater Anglia (GA) — one of Britain’s most successful rail operators — transferred to public ownership, under the government’s plan to renationalise passenger rail.
ALLRAIL was pleased to take part in the Florence Academy on Smart Transport Regulation, organised by the Florence School of Regulation (FSR).
John Thomas, ALLRAIL's Policy Director, attended the Conservative Party Conference on 6th and 7th October 2025 in Manchester, UK. Among others, he met with Iain Stewart, the ex-chair of the Transport Select Committee, and Jerome Mayhew Member of Parliament (MP), the Shadow Minister (Transport).
ALLRAIL Secretary General Nick Brooks was pleased to take part in the panel discussion on “An Open and Fair Market” during the Europe 2025 Congress – Seminar “The Open Mobility Ecosystem: Collaboration with Buses” at the Busworld Exhibition and Conference in Brussels, Belgium.
Our Legal Officer, Guillem Ochoa attended the 2025 annual conference of the Association Française du Rail (AFRA) – the French Association representing new entrants in passenger and freight rail.
New Statesman has published a new Report today on Open Access rail in the country, and our Policy Director John Thomas has contributed to it.
ALLRAIL Secretary General Nick Brooks took part in the mid-term event of Flagship Project No. 6 on regional passenger rail, managed by Europe’s Rail — the EU body supporting research and innovation in the European rail system. ( https://rail-research.europa.eu/ )
On 16 September 2025, ALLRAIL attended the GRB Plenary Session which took place in the format of a “Quiz with Oana Gherghinescu”, Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA).
Our Legal Officer, Guillem Ochoa, attended the Summer School in Vienna on the Future of Capacity Management organised by the infrastructure managers’ platform RailNetEurope (RNE).
This week, our colleague Arthur Kaminga attended the Benelux Union workshop on cross-border rail which took place in Brussels.
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 speaks at 13th International Railway Summit, in the session "Integrated ticketing: seamless cross-border and multimodal travel.
Together with other prominent European rail sector players, ALLRAIL’s Secretary General Nick Brooks participated in the Envision.2025 Global Conference held in Shanghai.
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.
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 Secretary General Nick Brooks took part in 15th Florence Intermodal Forum, co-organised by the Florence School of Regulation, and by the European Commission.
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.
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.
Salim was interviewed by the British leading TV channel ITV
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.
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’.
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
• 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)
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)
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.
