THE European Commission (EC) revealed its rail investment priorities for the next five years on June 29, when transport commissioner Mrs Violeta Bulc unveiled a shortlist of 276 transport projects which are being put forward to share €13.1bn in funding from the European Union's (EU) Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

REGULATORY pressures on Europe's largest railfreight market could drive up operating costs by as much as 20% over the next five years, according to a study by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV).

THREE new European Union (EU) railway research projects, which will form the preliminary work of the future core activities of the Shift2Rail joint technology initiative, were launched at an event held in Brussels last week.

THE European Commission has pledged €136m in matching funding from its Cohesion Fund for the development of the standard-gauge freight line from the Portuguese port of Sines to the border town of Elvas.

NEW doubts over the economic feasibility a new high-speed railway test centre in southern Spain have surfaced after the European Commission (EC) launched an in-depth investigation to determine if the €359m project violates European Union state aid rules.

EUROPEAN Union (EU) transport ministers adopted a set of conclusions on transport infrastructure and the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) on December 3, and reviewed progress on the political pillar of the Fourth Railway Package.

THE International Public Transport Association (UITP) has urged the European Commission (EC) to prioritise public transport investment in its proposed package for jobs, growth and investment.

THE European Commission announced on November 26 that it has launched infringement proceedings against Austria at the European Court of Justice for failing to comply with EU regulations on financial transparency in the rail sector.

THE European Commission (EC) has published a call for expressions of interest for associated members to join the Shift2Rail joint technology research initiative, a public-private partnership undertaking which will invest €920m in railway research and innovation from 2014 to 2020.

THREE European railway associations are calling for European Union transport ministers to take decisive action on the Fourth Railway Package and create a level playing field when they meet in Brussels on October 8.