liberalisation Archives - International Railway Journal

liberalisation

March 30, 2026 | Analysis

The elephant in the room for SNCF

David Haydock examines the financial implications of growing competition on the French high-speed network for French National Railways (SNCF).

June 10, 2025 | Financial

Bulgaria prepares to tender passenger contracts

Three operating contracts will be available, covering all passenger services in the country from December 2026.

February 4, 2021 | High-speed

Ilsa delays start to second half of 2022

Ilsa is one of two new entrants to the Spanish high-speed market

December 15, 2020 | Passenger

Passenger liberalisation stumbles toward 2023 start

France is slowly gearing up to open up Public Service Obligation (PSO) passenger contracts to competition from 2023, in line with European legislation. David Haydock reviews the current situation.

December 8, 2020 | Rolling stock

SNCF at a crossroads

Passenger market liberalisation, freight reform and growing company debt were all major challenges facing French National Railways (SNCF) president and CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou when he took the job in November 2019. Covid-19 has added a new dynamic to the role. In an exclusive interview, Farandou speaks to David Haydock about SNCF’s prospects for the decade ahead.

July 8, 2020 | Policy

France’s regulatory and safety authorities sign cooperation agreement

AS France prepares to open its rail market to competition, the Regulatory Transport Authority (ART) and the Railway Safety Board (EPSF) have signed a cooperation agreement to facilitate the sharing of information.

July 6, 2020 | High-speed

Adif AV receives path requests for high-speed network

SPANISH national operator Renfe and Rielsfera, a subsidiary of French National Railways (SNCF), have submitted their requests for high-speed train paths in Spain ahead of the development of the 2021 timetable, which marks the liberalisation of Spanish high-speed operation.

May 12, 2020 | High-speed

Spanish competition authority reverses decision to limit duration of Renfe HS contract

SPAIN’s National Market and Competition Authority (CNMC) has reversed a decision to restrict the length of national operator Renfe’s contract to operate a package of high-speed services from 10 to five years.

April 9, 2020 | Financial

AllRail calls for action to prevent private operators from going out of business

THE Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants (AllRail) says that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented crisis for independent passenger rail operators and predicts that some could disappear as early as this month.

July 25, 2019 | Europe

AllRail: European liberalisation in jeopardy after WestBahn decline

THE Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants (AllRail) has warned there are serious risks to rail liberalisation in Europe after open-access operator WestBahn announced plans to scale back its operations by half.

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