Europe needs to go much further in slashing red tape, French minister urges
Benjamin Haddad says the EU has a window to act right now.
rail
Russia accused of trying to disrupt aid to Ukraine by hacking border crossings
UK says GRU unit accessed cameras near borders, military installations and rail stations at key European locationsRussia tried to hack into border security cameras to spy on and disrupt the flow of western aid entering Ukraine, the UKโs intelligence se…
UK inflation setback for Labour as โAwful Aprilโ hits households
The 3.5 percent rise was sharper than expected.
Polish farmers rebel against EU Green Deal on eve of crucial election
In todayโs edition of The Capitals, read about why the EU’s defence pact with the UK makes sense, Spainโs rail system struggling despite billions in EU funding, and so much more.
Spainโs rail system struggles despite billions in EU funding
Billions in EU funds havenโt stopped mounting criticism of Spainโs troubled rail network.
Mike Lynchโs superyacht sank in high winds, says report
Investigators said Bayesian, which sank in Italy killing 15 people, was destabilised by windThe late tech tycoon Mike Lynchโs superyacht, Bayesian, sank after it was hit by winds of around 117km/h that drove the vessel past its point of stability and c…
Bruno Retailleau: From medieval role player to French presidential hopeful
Franceโs interior minister wants to turn his center-right party back into a heavyweight political force.
UK and Switzerland open way for direct rail link
Governments outline plan to encourage train companies to launch services that could cut journey time to five hours
EU countries soften push to stop Chinese tech buyouts
Capitals are set to weaken rules that would require them to scrutinize foreign investments in sensitive technologies such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, a draft document shows.
Spain: cable theft that caused rail chaos was โact of sabotageโ, says minister
Signalling cable taken from four locations, delaying high-speed services between Madrid and Seville, week after massive power cutSpainโs transport minister has said the countryโs rail network suffered โan act of serious sabotageโ after vital signalling…
Shocked by the Farage surge? You havenโt been paying attention
Brits voted for Conservatives, they voted for Labour โ and the change they wanted didn’t happen.
While Farage surges, Labour prays for its plan to work
Downing Street insists nothing has changed despite both main parties getting a drubbing from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. That line may not hold forever.
Financing scandal rocks Greeceโs ruling party
Opposition parties demand probe into links between a PR company and the New Democracy party of PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Miliband: We can work with US and China on energy security
The U.S. has used the summit to promote fossil fuels over the transition to net zero.
The US cavalry isnโt coming: How Europe moves its armies without American assistance
Europe has built its war-fighting plans on speeding American reinforcements to the front lines. The prospect of that not happening is throwing military mobility plans into disarray.
The czarโs gambit: How Putin uses chess
Troubling links exist between Moscowโs war machine and the leadership of the iconic strategy game.
The record-breaking tunnel being built from Denmark to Germany
The rail and road link will slash journey times between much of Scandinavia and continental Europe.
The record-breaking tunnel being built from Denmark to Germany
The rail and road link will slash journey times between much of Scandinavia and continental Europe.
The record-breaking tunnel being built from Denmark to Germany
The rail and road link will slash journey times between much of Scandinavia and continental Europe.
With Trump back in power, World Bank walks a tightrope on climate work
The bankโs messaging on climate represents a delicate balancing act between the institution and the U.S., its largest shareholder.
Lithuania aims to deter Russia by upgrading โcriticalโ road and anti-border defenses
The project aims to make it easier to move troops and equipment between Poland and the Baltic countries.
A train from the UK to Italy? We’ve heard that one before, but I’m on board | Jonn Elledge
Itโs a lot easier to tease new cross-Channel rail services than it is to actually start running trains. Iโm crossing my fingers anywayBetween environmental breakdown, economic crisis and Donald Trump, it often feels like thereโs precious little reason …
Bomb explodes outside offices of Greek rail accident company in Athens
Hellenic Train said the blast had caused limited damage and no injuries to any employees or passers-by. The explosion comes amid widespread public anger over a 2023 railway accident, Greeceโs worst, in which 57 people were killed and dozens more injure…
Car-loving Germans lured to public transport by cheap ticket
An affordable public transport ticket may be encouraging car-loving Germans to shift their travel habits.
Paris-Milan train resumes service 19 months after its interruption
After a 19-month interruption due to a landslide in the Maurienne Valley in the French Alps, the rail link between Paris and Milan resumed Monday morning, with almost full trains departing from the French capital. The first two TGV trains left the Gar…
Trump forces Canada to rethink trade and energy flows
Tariff threats prompt provinces to tout โeast-westโ corridors, rather than โsouthโ to the U.S.
Plans to break up Eurostar monopoly given boost by rail regulator
Office of Rail and Road says capacity could be made available at Temple Mills depot
Donald Trumpโs Scottish golf course will not host worldโs top championship
Governing body chief says Turnberry is a “challenging” venue โ and implied Trump’s position as U.S. president might overshadow any tournament.
Trump would only help a neighbor for profit
The U.S. president doesn’t see the benefit in helping allies โ and its visible in the deal he’s trying to foist on Ukraine.
Science and tech groups lead campaign to revive Oxford rail link
Cowley freight line has been closed to passengers since 1963 and now only transports Minis from BMWโs car plant
The European tube: Inside the project to launch a continent-wide rail system by 2040
21st Europeโs Starline network plans to connect 39 destinations in European countries – with lines reaching the UK, Turkey and Ukraine too.
Serbia protests: How much trouble is Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ in?
As the biggest protests since Slobodan Miloลกeviฤโs regime rock Belgrade, POLITICO explains everything you need to know.
From London to Lviv: how Trumpโs new world order has shaken Europe
At each stop on 1,000-mile trip, discombobulated Europeans are grappling with new and unsettling realities as the US reforges its alliancesEurope live โ latest updatesWhile Donald Trump talks of the โbig beautiful oceanโ separating the US from the war …
Greek PM seeks โresetโ with former far-right activist as migration minister
Shaken by rail protests, Kyriakos Mitsotakis brings in new transport minister while tacking right on migrationThe Greek prime minister has appointed a former far-right student activist to the helm of the migration ministry as part of a broad reshuffle …
Virgin aims to raise ยฃ700m to rival Eurostar on cross-Channel trains
Richard Bransonโs group plans rail routes linking London to Paris and Brussels, and maybe Amsterdam Richard Bransonโs Virgin Group is aiming to raise ยฃ700m to fund its plan to launch cross-Channel rail services that would compete with Eurostar.Virgin, …
Grief and anger over rail disaster brings protests back to Greeceโs streets
Kyriakos Mitsotakis survives vote of confidence but sense of a cover-up grows two years after 57 died in head-on collisionUntil recently, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek prime minister, appeared unassailable. He was the poster boy of the European centre…
Athens: protesters clash with police during demonstration over 2023 train crash โย video report
Protesters launched burning projectiles and fireworks in clashes with police outside Greece’s parliament on 7 March in renewed nationwide protests calling for politicians to be held accountable for a 2023 rail disaster that claimed 57 lives. The protes…
WW2 bomb defused on rail tracks near Paris after day of transport chaos
Unexploded device found near Gare du Nord, Franceโs busiest train terminal, halting Eurostar and other servicesA second world war bomb found on rail tracks north of Paris was successfully defused on Friday after a day of transport chaos in which the Ga…
Greek premier faces no-confidence vote as rail disaster fallout deepens
Kyriakos Mitsotakis will face down calls to quit over his governmentโs handling of the countryโs worst train crash
Violent clashes erupt between youths and riot police amid protest in Athens โย video
Peaceful protests in central Athens have been eclipsed by the eruption of full-scale clashes between youths and riot police, as demonstrations and strikes were held across Greece to mark the second anniversary of a fatal train crash. In 2023, 57 people…
Huge protests, strikes paralyse Greece on train crash anniversary
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Athens and other Greek cities to mark the second anniversary of the country’s worst rail tragedy as strikes caused a general standstill. 57 people, mostly students, died on February 28, 2023 when a train from At…
Violence mars protests in Athens marking anniversary of Greece’s worst rail crash
Hooded attackers threw firebombs at police on Friday as 200,000 people demonstrated in Athens to mark the second anniversary of Greece’s worst rail accident. Opinion polls indicate that most Greeks believe officials covered up vital evidence following…
Greece gripped by massive strikes as suspicion and anger boil over
On the two-year anniversary of a train crash that killed 57 people, national protests reflect despair over its handling.
Merz won the German election. Hereโs what it means for Europe.
POLITICO breaks down what the conservativesโ victory means for EU policy and cooperation โ from nuclear weapons to cannabis.
St Pancras and Channel tunnel plan rail routes to Germany and Switzerland
Partnership comes as London station looks at ways to almost triple passenger numbersLondonโs St Pancras railway station and the Channel tunnel operator have agreed to work together to open up more trains from Britain to France, and routes to Germany an…
France, Germany decline to support 11 governmentโs rail funding plea
A potential new approach to the bloc’s budget has provoked fears that rail-friendly funds like the Connecting Europe Facility could be scrapped.
Germanyโs โฌ59 rail ticket hangs in the balance
The German conservatives have yet to make up their mind on the future of the ticket beyond 2025.
Thousands of students block traffic in Athens over delays to Tempi rail crash probe
The crash happened just before midnight on 28 February, 2023, when a freight train and a passenger train crashed head-on on the line linking Athens with Thessaloniki, killing 57 people.
PMQs: Starmer wins as Badenochโs scattergun approach falls flat
The Tory leader went for the government on the Chagos Islands and oil drilling โ but didn’t hone an effective argument.
Whereโs the Competitiveness Compass pointing?
The European Commission’s policy plans point to growth even as it tries to hold on to ambitious climate goals.
Britainโs Rachel Reeves needs a growth miracle
A major speech Wednesday promises a host of pro-growth policies to turn the UK economy around. But the hurdles in the chancellorโs way are huge.
Trumpโs TikTok bailout is worse than it looks
Trump has effectively created a precedent for ignore laws that he believes are politically or personally unhelpful to him.
Protesters in Greece demand answers two years after 57 killed in Tempi rail disaster
Protesters in Greece demand answers two years after 57 killed in Tempi rail disaster
Davos man says no to free rail, yes to private jets
During the snowy summit Davos delegates will be “encouraged to walk” and will be provided with “winter shoe grips.”
The post Davos man says no to free rail, yes to private jets appeared first on Euractiv.
Belgians brace themselves for a nationwide strike on Monday
The nationwide day of action over new pension reforms will cause largescale disruption as many teachers, bus, airport and rail staff have registered to strike.
Belgian transport faces severe disruption Monday by national strike
Trade unions called the strike to protest against government plans for pension reform.
What California can learn from the place that invented the initiative
Our California ballot-measure reporter heads to Switzerland on the 150th anniversary of its first federal referendum to see what a state mad about direct democracy can take away from the country that devised i
Wanted: An early-warning system for the end of the world
Some experts believe we could hit catastrophic climate โtipping pointsโ in a matter of years. The U.K. government, with a bit of help from Dominic Cummings, is trying to prepare.
Berlin-Paris high-speed rail route symbolizes Europe’s thirst for train travel
French and German train operators have launched a daily round-trip service between the two European capitals. They’re betting that the journey time โ eight hours โ won’t put off customers looking to keep their carbon footprint low.
Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv accuses Moscow of recklessness after oil tanker sinks in storm
One dead while second tanker in distress in Black Sea near occupied Crimea. What we know on day 1,027Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of recklessness on Sunday after one oil tanker sank and a second vessel ran aground in the Kerch Strait between main…
Reeves dismisses calls for HS2-style Birmingham to Manchester line
Chancellor does not want to give โfalse hopeโ to proponents of partially private-funded rail link
Brexit Britain looks to Europe to help fix its railways
With money tight, ministers are looking for novel ways to finance new trains. The solution might lie across the channel.
Sanders says this is likely his last term
Progressive icon was reelected for another six years in November.
Eurostar is Europeโs worst-ranked rail operator, Trenitalia the best
Eurostar, which links France, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands, charges prices that are twice the European average, yet fails to deliver better services.
Portuguese mayors urge Spain to press ahead with high-speed rail works
“What can’t happen is 2040…If we don’t start now, we’ll finish later and later.”
UK set to nationalize train operators from May
Returning all the country’s rail operators into public ownership is among the key policies Keir Starmer launched since his party’s election five months ago.
Renationalising Englandโs rail may not overcome hard realities
Bringing franchises into public ownership is risky given some routes are just harder to run well and face legacy issues
7 weeks until Trump: Russia and Ukraine fight for advantage before peace talks are imposed
The risk of a miscalculation is growing as the war enters a potentially decisive โ and dangerous โ new phase.ย
Eurostar: Thirty years of challenges
On November 14, 1994, the rail operator Eurostar launched its high-speed services through the Channel Tunnel. A historic day that saw Paris and London connected in record time but the 30-year journey hasn’t always run smoothly. FRANCE 24 takes a close…
Far-right Jordan Bardellaโs book publisher sues, alleging ad campaign was censored
The 29-year-old National Rally leader’s book hits shelves on Saturday.
Government explores privately-funded Birmingham-Manchester rail link
Mayors argue new train line is needed after northern leg of HS2 was axed on cost grounds
Brusselsโ global infrastructure plan isnโt challenging Beijing โ itโs relying on it
EU-funded projects abroad are being built by Chinese companies.
Liverpool Street station redevelopment plans scaled back
Network Rail sets out revised project at UKโs busiest station after heritage groups called proposals โinsensitiveโ
Troops search for more flood victims in Valencia as rain disrupts rail service
Troops search for more flood victims in Valencia as rain disrupts rail service
Devastating Spanish floods kill 51 people
Torrential rain has lashed Spain with Valencia bearing the brunt of catastrophic flooding.
Floods in Valencia region kill at least 95 people, say Spanish authorities
Torrential rain lashed much of eastern and southern Spain on Tuesday, flooding streets with muddy water and disrupting rail and air travel. In some areas, more than a month’s rain fell in a single day.
Several bodies found as heavy rains, flash floods slam Spain
Emergency service workers recovered multiple bodies in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia after heavy rains battered the country’s eastern and southern areas, causing flash floods and disrupting air and rail travel.
UK budget: 7 things to watch for as Labour hikes taxes
From splashing the cash to going for growth, here’s how Britain’s first female chancellor wants to run the economy.
New rules to build corporate giants wonโt reverse EU decline, officials say
Europe’s competition enforcers are alarmed by talk of changing merger rules to allow big firms in key industries.
Meet the gun-toting Brits who will vote for Donald Trump
A British tea room in the swing state of Georgia plays host to some unlikely political views.
Far-right โVenezuela majorityโ signals new power balance in European Parliament
Left-wingers rail against rightward shift ahead of showdown with commissioners.
We must resist Brussels like we resisted the Soviets in 1956, Orbรกn tells Hungarians
PM Viktor Orbรกn rails against the EU on the anniversary of the Hungarian uprising.
Labour to end profit incentive for rail operators in run-up to nationalisation
Train bosses accuse government of being โideologicalโ over ending post-Covid scheme letting them keep more cash
โThe threat remainsโ: Trumpโs path to overturning a 2024 defeat
The very real scenario where Trump loses and takes power anyway.
Romanian government creates state-run rail company for defence needs
The company will also facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to conflict zones.
Finland, Norway to improve rail links for military use
Finland and Norway are planning to improve their rail and road links for military use as tensions with Russia remain frozen for the foreseeable future.
โExplosionโ sparks evacuation on train carrying MEPs
Official asks European Parliament staff to “stay calm.”
Orbรกn: The European mainstream is surrounded by a ring of protest
Hungary’s prime minister says Europe is “failing” and people are turning against centrist parties.
Tories rail against UK move to hand back Chagos Islands
Britain’s opposition party argued China could take advantage of Mauritius controlling the archipelago.
Letta says his European rail vision hinges on completion of Capital Markets Union
“Without mobilising private investments, it will be impossible to convince all the 27 (EU countries) to put public money in a common box,โ Letta said.
Deadly virus scare closes tracks at Hamburg rail station
Two people displayed symptoms of the Marburg virus, which has a mortality rate of 88 percent.
Hungarian investors accuse Spain of breaking EU law over rail deal veto
Madrid blocked sale of Spanish trainmaker Talgo for political reasons, says Ganz-MรกVag chief
Creating a Single European Rail Area โ we have the vision, now itโs about implementation, says Travaini [Advocacy Lab Content]
InnoTrans 2024, Europeโs leading trade fair for transport technology, was held in Berlin at the end of September. Euractiv spoke with Giorgio Travaini, Executive Director of EU-Rail, about his goal of creating a Single European Rail Area.
Technology driving European rail innovation to sustainable destination [Advocacy Lab Content]
The worldโs largest trade fair focused on transport technology, InnoTrans 2024, took place, from 24-27 September. The railway sector focused on how technology can contribute significantly to the achievement of the European Green Deal.
Aleksandar Vuฤiฤโs diplomacy ร la carte
The Serbian leader has proved adept at balancing the West versus China and Russia.
On the right track, European rail sector unites, integrating for digital era [Advocacy Lab Content]
For the first time, the entire ecosystem of EU rail has come together in Berlin. From innovation to authorisation and market entry, stakeholders are building on railโs rich history to integrate it into the digital era.
Trump says heโll meet Zelenskyy Friday, slams Europe
The Republican says he knows Putin “very well” and claims he’ll make a peace deal “very quickly.”
High-speed Paris-to-Berlin rail link to launch in December
Daytime service will take about eight hours and will complement the night route that launched last yearA new high-speed train linking Paris and Berlin is to launch in December, operators have announced.The daytime service will complement a popular nigh…
Avanti to keep UKโs West Coast rail franchise despite poor performance
Ministers have found no legal grounds to strip operator of contract early under Labourโs nationalisation plans
How do you make Europe’s rail network faster?
On Monday, rail sector specialists spent a six-hour train ride attempting to figure out how to fix a network that’s fragmented, expensive and arguably holding back European growth.