Press releases
Progress With Passenger Rail Market Opening Remains Extremely Weak – There Is Still So Much To Do
Last week, the 8th EU Rail Market Monitoring Report (RMMS) was published. It claims that new entrants now have 14% market share in EU passenger rail, but we think this is inflated – in reality it is just 6%. For passenger rail, the RMMS Report is a climate disaster.
Combat de Railcoop pour un transport ferroviaire abordable : ALLRAIL réaffirme son plein soutien
ALLRAIL exprime son soutien total à l'opérateur ferroviaire nouvel entrant français Railcoop dans son projet de lancement d'une alternative de transport ferroviaire durable et abordable entre Lyon et Bordeaux en 2024.
Railcoop’s fight for affordable rail transport: ALLRAIL stands strong in support
Brussels, 25th September 2023: ALLRAIL extends its full support to French passenger rail new entrant Railcoop in its inaugural project to offer an affordable, sustainable rail transport option between Lyon and Bordeaux by 2024.
Bahnreisende in Großbritannien können ihre Fahrscheine wesentlich leichter als in der EU kaufen – Es ist Zeit, dies zu ändern
Im Großbritannien werden alle Bahnfahrkarten bei allen Fahrkartenverkäufern verkauft. Die Deutsche Bahn (DB) und ihr Lobbyverband verweigern dies jedoch in Deutschland und der EU - warum schränken sie die Bahnoptionen ein, die Fahrgäste buchen können?
Passengers Can Book Rail Journeys Much More Easily in the UK than in the EU – It’s Time for EU Transport Commissioner Vălean’s New MDMS Proposal to Put Passengers First
In the United Kingdom, All Rail Tickets Are Sold at All Rail Ticket Vendors.Yet Deutsche Bahn (DB) and its lobby refuse this in Germany and the EU – Why Are They Restricting the Operators that Passengers Can Book?
‘Rail Partners with Ukraine’ Fundraiser Raises £105,847 For Donation Campaign For Ukrainian Frontline Railway Workers
On Tuesday 12 September 2023, the UK-based rail non-profit Rail Partners hosted ‘Rail Partners with Ukraine’, a collective railway fundraiser. The special event in London, in aid of the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force and its food package campaign, raised £105 847 (equals €122 867 and $131 860), which means that approximately 7056 of food parcels can be delivered directly to Ukrainian railway workers and their families
With the Climate and Cost of Living Crisis, the EU’s Multimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS) Proposal Must Convert Car Drivers to Rail
The recent heatwaves and floods across Europe reminded us of the current climate crisis, to which the EU's transport sector - especially the private individual motor car - contributes significantly. The EU Commission must make sure to focus MDMS efforts on the vast majority (80%) of EU citizens that use the private individual motor car by ensuring that All Tickets are Sold at All Ticket Vendors – and with this 100% Transparency For EU Citizens: Nobody Should Restrict What They Can See, Based Purely Upon Where They Go To Book.
EU Commissioner Breton Wants “More Choice For Consumers And Fewer Obstacles For Smaller Competitors”. Therefore, His New Digital Markets Act (DMA) Must Rein In The Gatekeepers Of Passenger Rail
Today, the EU Commissioner for Internal Market Mr Thierry Breton has published the first list of “digital gatekeepers” in the EU, online companies that are a bottleneck between businesses and consumers. When you look at Mr Breton’s criteria, it is clear that EU state-owned rail incumbents’ in-house distribution channels are all digital gatekeepers.
Revision of Train Drivers’ Directive Essential to Growing International Rail Traffic
International railway transportation experiences significant operational barriers compared to road and aviation through stringent language requirements which hinder the development of international travel. Significant changes to existing requirements are needed to facilitate the growth of international rail transportation. ALLRAIL and ERFA believe English should be introduced as a common language for international traffic in the revision of the Directive, whilst also maintaining existing national language requirements
Despite All The Taxpayer Funding, Some Rail Services in Europe Are Still Not Easily Available For Passengers – MDMS Is The Answer
To protect our climate and grow cross-border rail, let’s stop restricting what consumers see - all rail tickets must be bookable at all rail ticket vendors.
GERMANY: Invest in the Infrastructure, not in a Company! The Planned Equity Increase for DB Risks Delaying Urgent Upgrades to the Network
Last week, the media reported about plans by the German government to increase the equity capital of the state-owned rail incumbent Deutsche Bahn (DB).
Not only would this distort competition - because equity injections into the DB Group parent company mean that its commercial subsidiaries can also benefit from support intended for its infrastructure subsidiary, but also, it comes at a time when the EU Commission’s competition authority is already investigating both DB and French incumbent SNCF for cross-subsidisation of their commercial freight operator subsidiaries.
MDMS Proposal: ALL Policy Options Must Be Back on the Table
Recently, a EU Commission representative announced that ALL policy options were back at the table for the upcoming proposal on Mutldimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS), especially regarding ticket re-selling and the scope (cross-border journeys).
We welcome this announcement, but we also call on the EU Commission to ensure that ALL policy options are back on the table, including a mandate on large MDMS (e.g. the rail incumbents' in-house ticket retail channels) to show and sell the offers of willing rail operators on FRAND terms.
German Transport Minister Criticises That Train Drivers Have To Be Changed At Borders Because Of Different Languages, And That This Increases The Cost
After 70 years of the fragmented current system, just 4-5% of travellers crossing borders internally within the EU use passenger rail.
Transport Minister Dr Volker Wissing has recently identified major cost drivers that cause cross-border rail to be so much more expensive than flying. One of them is train drivers changing over at the internal EU borders, which would be avoided if a single language were adopted.
Wheels Of Support: Once Again, The Transport Sector Joins Forces To Help Ukraine Against Russian Onslaught
In a remarkable display of solidarity, the transport sector has once again stepped up to support Ukraine in its ongoing struggle against the Russian onslaught. The international rail and bus operator Go-Ahead Group generously donated two buses from subsidiary companies in Swindon and Luton that have been refitted by Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership (SHAP), a dedicated group of local volunteers, to serve as hospital buses in Ukraine. The refitted buses will undoubtedly save lives and provide essential medical care to those affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Evidence Shows There Could Be 50% Modal Shift To Rail If Competition Were Introduced Onto More Long-Distance Routes in Europe
A new report highlighting the significant potential of introducing competition on European long-distance routes currently served by a single operator. The report, conducted by Silverrail, reveals that this move could lead to an estimated average modal shift of 50% from planes to trains. This shift would generate an additional €1 billion in revenue for the rail sector and reduce CO2 emissions by over 2.4 million tonnes. However, it is unfortunate that many Member States seem to be influenced by lobbying efforts favoring the status quo. A different approach is now needed.
Paris To Barcelona By Train Every Day At A Low Fare – Why Does Nobody Sell This Connection?
• Paris to Barcelona (in both directions) is one of the most popular cross-border transport corridors in Europe.
• Unfortunately, there are still very few high-speed trains on this route, and these are often very expensive.
• There is a very reasonable night train connection available as well, with one single change of train in the French border town of Latour-de-Carol.
• But WHY is this rail connection not shown on any website or app, and WHY is it not sold anywhere in a single booking transaction?
Cartel Office Ruling Shows that EU Transport Commissioner Vălean’s New MDMS Plans Will Be Anti-Competitive
Last week, the German Federal Cartel Office ruled that certain practices and contractual clauses in rail ticketing imposed by the dominant rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) are unlawful and anti-competitive, representing an abuse of market power.
The German Federal Cartel Office's ruling contrasts with EU Commissioner Vălean's U-turn in her new plans regarding the upcoming initiative on Multimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS), which will unfortunately allow incumbent rail operators to remain abusing their market power.
Germany’s Federal Cartel Office Ruling that Deutsche Bahn’s Actions are Anti-Competitive Signals Major Rail Reform Will Come in Europe
- The EU Commission must act now to ensure this decision and behaviour change become standard practice across all EU markets
- ALLRAIL calls for the ruling to be immediately applied to all rail operators across Europe who use monopolistic behaviour
- Access to real-time data, open use of all relevant marketing techniques and keywords, and fair and non-discriminatory commercial terms for ticket vendors by dominant operators must become a European rail framework
- European consumers are one step closer to technology that creates a door-to-door travel possibility
Bane NOR og norsk jernbanesektor donerer ytterligere 1000 matkasser til Ukraina
Etter å ha vært med på reisen som Global Ukraine Rail Task Force foretok til Kyiv i april 2023 har Solfrid Cristina Hammersmark – seksjonssjef for Internasjonal seksjon i Bane NOR – intensivert arbeidet med å samle inn penger til flere matkasser.
Bane NOR And Norway’s Rail Sector Donate 1000 More Food Packages For Ukraine
After taking part in the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force journey to Kyiv in April 2023, Cristina Hammersmark – who is Head of International Affairs at Norway’s rail infrastructure manager Bane NOR - intensified efforts to collect funds for more food packages.
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.
Dutch railway deal is “fundamentally illegal” say independents
The contract the Dutch government intends to award to Dutch railway operator NS for passenger transport services is facing EU scrutiny and is “fundamentally illegal”, according to ALLRAIL. The new concession which would run from 1 January 2025 to the end of 2033 grants unjustified subsidies, covers a disproportionate size of railway services and its timing is “suspicious”.
Czech Republic abolishes rail regulator amidst controversies, what’s going on?
The Czech government has supported a bill that will lead to the abolition of the independent Office for Access to Transport Infrastructure (ÚPDI), transferring its tasks to another institution. However, controversies and allegations surround the abolishment, leading back to the previous head of the Office, Pavel Kodym, and a letter to the European Commission about possible illegal actions of Czech state railways, České Dráhy (ČD) in charging costs of land use to the rail infrastructure manager.
‘Belgium’s approach to encouraging night trains should be emulated across Europe’
The Belgian measure in which night train operators will pay nothing for track access fees and energy over the next two years should be adopted across Europe, says ALLRAIL, which represents new entrants in passenger rail. The organisation celebrates the launch of European Sleeper last week, the “first ever – independently owned – scheduled long-distance rail operator to depart from Belgium”.
Interview des Generalsekretärs von ALLRAIL, Nick Brook, mit dem Tagesspiegel
Nick Brooks setzt sich in Brüssel dafür ein, den We bewerb auf der Schiene in Europa schneller einzuführen –und muss sich dort gegen die Staatsbahnlobby durchsetzen. In Sachen Liberalisierung ist für ihn nicht sein Heimatland Großbritannien das Vorbild, sondern Tschechien.
Nick Brooks: Warnung vor „Kartell”
Auf der Bahnstrecke Berlin–Paris ist man über acht Stunden unterwegs, ein- bis zweimaliges Umsteigen inbegrif- fen. Das soll sich ändern. Ende dieses Jahres, spätestens 2024, soll eine direk- te Hochgeschwindigkeitsverbindung eröffnet werden. Reisezeit: deutlich un- ter acht Stunden. Kritiker befürchten allerdings Mono- pole. Nick Brooks, Generalsekretär des Allrail-Verbands, der sich in Brüssel für mehr Wettbewerb im Schienenverkehr einsetzt, warnt vor einem „Kartell“. Er fragt: „Warum können (oder wollen) das größte Bahnunternehmen Europas (die DB) und das zweitgrößte (die SNCF) nicht miteinander konkurrieren?“ Es sei nämlich gerade der Wettbewerb, der die Schiene attraktiv mache.
France: How one European country is planning a ‘rail revolution’
ALLRAIL welcomes France's drive to expand its high-speed rail infrastructure to accelerate modal shift to rail.
However, like we stressed in the article, the only way to take full advantage of this is to make SNCF face more competition.
Podwójne standardy UTK przy przyznawaniu otwartego dostępu?
Stowarzyszenie ALLRAIL przeanalizowało ostatnie decyzje Prezesa Urzędu Transportu Kolejowego dotyczące przyznania otwartego dostępu do infrastruktury. Zdaniem Stowarzyszenia, decyzje te dostarczają dalszych dowodów na potwierdzenie tezy o podwójnych standardach stosowanych w stosunku do przewoźników.
ALLRAIL: Podwójne standardy UTK w kwestii otwartego dostępu
Po raz kolejny państwowe pociągi komercyjne PKP Intercity nie zagrażają pociągom dotowanym, natomiast podobne, mniej liczne pociągi przewoźników komercyjnych stanowią zagrożenie wręcz niewyobrażalne - komentuje decyzje Urzędu Transportu Kolejowego europejskie stowarzyszenie prywatnych przewoźników kolejowych ALLRAIL.
Wettbewerber kritisieren Staatsbahn-Expansionen
Der europäische Perso- nenverkehr-Wettbewerberverband Allrail sieht die Verlängerung der Nachtzuglinie Stockholm – Hamburg der schwedischen SJ bis Berlin skeptisch.
Développer le leasing pour soutenir les projets des nouveaux entrants
L’Association des loueurs européens de matériel roulant ferroviaire AERRL et l’association des opérateurs indépendants ALLRAIL se sont concertés au sujet de la problématique de fourniture de véhicules pour faciliter le lancement de nouveaux services de transport de passagers. Cela ne concerne que les projets en open access, et non les contrats de service publics, pour lesquels on opte pratiquement toujours pour du matériel neuf.
Klart att SJ börjar köra nattåg till Berlin – konkurrenten kritisk
SJ har nu släppt de första biljetterna till nattåget som den 31 mars börjar gå till Berlin från Stockholm.
Samtidigt anser Snälltåget, som kör samma sträcka, att villkoren är orättvisa.
– SJ får statliga pengar för samma sträcka som vi kör, säger marknadschefen Marco Andersson.
ALLRAIL: Sweden’s night train subsidy for Stockholm – Berlin is unfair competition
ALLRAIL says plans by Swedish state-owned operator SJ to extend its night train Stockholm-Hamburg to Berlin will cause unfair competition, as operator Snälltåget runs night trains on that same route on a commercial basis. This while SJ is receiving PSO funding from the state, “Illegal cross-subsidy”, says ALLRAIL.
Pociągi są za drogie, bo PKP boi się konkurencji
Wnioski zagranicznych przewoźników o dostęp do polskich torów są albo odrzucane przez UTK, albo rozpatrywane tak długo, aż potencjalni rywale PKP InterCity sami je wycofają.
Study proposes massive expansion of Europe’s high speed rail network
A master plan for massive expansion of the high speed rail network has been proposed by the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking in co-operation with the Community of European Railways, supply industry association UNIFE and the AllRail association of new entrants to the passenger market.
ALLRAIL odpowiada UTK. „Urząd kreuje pozory otwarcia rynku kolejowego”
Europejskie stowarzyszenie reprezentujące niezależnych przewoźników pasażerskich odniosło się do odpowiedzi prezesa UTK na zarzuty dotyczące blokowania otwarcia rynku kolejowego w Polsce. – Stanowisko Prezesa UTK jest doskonałym odzwierciedleniem fasadowości działań urzędu – pisze ALLRAIL i przedstawia zebrane przez siebie statystyki.
ALLRAIL: Podwyżki cen biletów IC to wina braku konkurencji
Polski rynek jest zamknięty na cztery spusty, nie istnieje żadna przeciwwaga dla tego, do czego może doprowadzić protekcjonizm państwowy. Zalicza się do tego również wzrost cen biletów – pisze w dzisiejszym komentarzu do podwyżki cen biletów PKP Intercity międzynarodowe stowarzyszenie prywatnych operatorów kolejowych ALLRAIL.
‘Train Over Plane’: ALLRAIL’s Campaign to Decarbonise the Transport Sector. Here’s All You Need to Know
ALLRAIL and the online travel comparison and booking portal Omio are partners in a new campaign to replace short-haul flights with rail to decarbonise the transport sector. SilverRail Technologies spearheaded the campaign, and ten other organisations are partnering with it as well.
Spain’s new high-speed trains make it Europe’s rail capital
Yesterday was the launch of iryo, first privately owned high-speed rail operator in Spain
MADRID, Spain - Yesterday morning, at 10.25 am Central European Time (CET), the inaugural service of iryo departed from Madrid to Valencia. iryo is the first privately owned high-speed rail operator in Spain.
Spanish Iryo takes off with inaugural journey
The 21st of November was a major milestone for the Spanish high-speed rail competition, as the inaugural train of operator Iryo took off. Secretary General Nick Brooks was on the inaugural service of the operator, saying: “It is great to see how commercially driven Open Access services – such as Iryo – are making long-distance rail more attractive and winning travellers away from less sustainable transport modes, namely airlines and cars.”
Online Press Event: Smart and Affordable High-Speed Services in the European Union
Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking - in collaboration with ALLRAIL, CER and UNIFE - is kicking-off 2023 with a dedicated online joint press event exploring the main findings coming from the ‘Smart and Affordable High-Speed Services in the European Union’ study. The event will take place on 23 January at 11:00 CET, online.
ALLRAIL Secretary General speaks at RailTech Live event on EU rail ticketing system
On 14th December, ALLRAIL Secretary General Nick Brooks participated in RailTech's event "A seamless European rail ticketing system" in Rotterdam.
ALLRAIL’s State of Market Opening reception was a success
On the 1st December 2022, ALLRAIL held the first event in its new office: the State of Market Opening reception.
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.
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.
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)