Press Releases

Strong unity of rail new entrants for an open and competitive European rail market!

ERFA’s Annual event, held on March 7th was a great success with over 100 delegates and was supported by representatives from both DG Move and DG Competition at the European Commission and the European Parliament’s Transport Committee. The event was dedicated to the actions needed to deliver further liberalisation following the finalisation of the the 4th Rail Package in December 2016.

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The political pillar of the 4th Railway Package - a missed opportunity

ERFA, representing new entrants in the rail market, regrets that the adoption of the political pillar of the 4th Railway Package postpones the urgent and much-needed reforms of the rail sector, endangering the attractiveness of rail for passengers and customers.  We will also continue to strongly raise our voice against unlawful state aid and abuse of dominant position in the rail sector, bridging the existing gaps in the legislation in order to improve rail's performance. 

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30 transport associations call on the review of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework

ERFA and 29 European transport associations, representing infrastructure managers, operators, local authorities, users and equipment suppliers in the maritime, inland waterways, railways, road, cycling, aviation and intermodal sectors, call on the EU Parliament and the Council to approve the Commission proposal for the review of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework. The transport sector warns that the increase of EUR 1.4 billion for the CEF budget cannot be considered sufficient to complete the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T).

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ERFA welcomes the EU Parliament’s proposal to offer a free InterRail pass to young Europeans

ERFA, representing new entrants from the freight and passenger sector, believes that free InterRail pass for young Europeans is an essential project to encourage youth’s mobility, contributing to create a common European identity. It is essential to allow all operators to join the scheme on a fair and equitable basis without delay and not to shut out new entrants from the free InterRail pass project, as they represent a growing part of the rail market and bring benefits for the whole rail sector.

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Joint letter urging strong EU action to decarbonise transport

In a joint letter with European transport associations, ERFA, representing rail new entrants, calls for an ambitious strategy to tackle rising Green House Gas emissions from the transport sector. Major opportunities to decarbonise transport must be grasped within all modes, but also with a focus on shifting to cleaner modes. A modal shift to rail in particular for medium and long distance passenger and freight transport can play a major role in reducing CO2 emissions from the transport sector.

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More EU budget for Transport

The Transport sector is mobilised to urge European institutions to dedicate more EU funds to transport in order to complete the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T). More EU Budget for Transport is the Best Investment Plan for Europe.

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4th Railway Package, Political pillar : A missed opportunity

The Council and the European Parliament agreed on a final version of the 4th Railway Package. The result is far removed from the European Commission?s initial ambition for reforming rail. The real winners from yesterday?s agreement are the other more polluting modes of transport, led notably by the road sector, who continue to make market gains where rail refuses to reform.

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ERFA leads the calls for rail to raise its game

At ERFA's Annual event the EU Commission's Head of Transport Henrik Hololei led calls for the rail sector to raise its game. Highlighting ERFA's ambitious, new action plan to deliver high performance on the rail freight corridors, Mr Hololei welcomed the fresh momentum to tackle rail's current underperformance.  

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Close financial transparency loopholes

Ahead of a decisive meeting on 30th September ERFA urges an end to loopholes in financial transparency. The loopholes that have recently emerged in discussions within Council create competitive distortions between EU Member States and within the rail sector. ERFA warns that they are contrary to the conditions needed for a competitive rail sector.

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