All rail subsidy to be axed?

[Metroland]

Story from the Daily mail, dunno how true it is! If so, bye, bye half the network.

Brussels bureaucrats are trying to force through rules which could see rail fares in Britain rise by 50 per cent, it emerged yesterday.

The European Commission wants to see passengers picking up the bill for the entire cost of rail travel, without any government subsidies.

Critics warned that the move would mean that £4billion of taxpayers’ money would be taken out of the rail network every year, leaving commuters to plug the gap.

The Commission’s Transport White Paper also argues for an increase in road charges and the removal of transport-related tax breaks, such as company cars.

The EU Paper says member states should ‘move towards full application of “user pays” principles to eliminate distortions, including harmful subsidies’ to ‘generate revenues and ensure financing for future transport investments’.

It adds: ‘In the future, transport users are likely to pay for a higher proportion of the costs than today.’

The paper also proposes a Single European Railway Area, which would hand greater control of Britain’s railways to Brussels.

Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle has calculated that fares could rise by up to half if the ‘barmy’ European Commission proposals are introduced.

She said: ‘There is little hope that Ministers will fight off this appalling plan from Brussels when the Tory-led Government is already shifting the cost of running the railways on to passengers.

A Commission spokesman said: ‘These are just proposals and any measures would have to be agreed by national governments.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...d-raise-rail-fares-50-cent.html#ixzz1V4uE2GYf

 

[HugePilchard]

I'm always slightly suspicious that I'm not getting the full facts when the only online newspaper articles I can find are from the Daily Hate and the Express. One would think that other papers would be covering this if there was much substance to it.

 

[Snapper]

More EU scaremongering from the Daily Wail...

 

[imagination]

Looks like the Daily mail has been sold yet another tall tale and not bothered to check the facts. You'd think they'd have learned their lesson by now...

 

[Metroland]

I'll see what I can find out during the day, and come back with more info. I'm slightly suspicious too. Here's some of the contents:

The Commission has announced a sizeable package of new policy initiatives in its Transport White Paper, which it finally presented to the public earlier this week. (In fact the Commission had already started work a while ago on the initiatives it has now announced, and therefore EU Issue Tracker has been monitoring each of these initiatives individually for some time already.)


Together, the expected future legislative proposals and policy papers are supposed to flesh out the Commission’s strategy of making the EU’s transport systems more competitive and integrated, with increased mobility and reduced emissions, by 2050.


The main broad requirements that will have to be met, and that the “Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area” (as the Commission has dubbed the White Paper) is aimed at achieving, are cleaner transportation technology, alternative fuels, and infrastructural changes.


The White Paper sets out initiatives in 40 different areas necessary for the transformation in Europe's transport system with the aim to face challenges like reducing dependence on imported oil, cutting carbon emissions in transport by 60% by 2050, promoting energy efficiency, tackling congestion and improving the existing transport infrastructure.


The Roadmap is accompanied by a working document which describes in detail all the initiatives the Commission intends to come forward with in the next decade.

Three areas


The Transport 2050 Roadmap sets different goals for different types of transport segments:

Urban transport:



A shift to cleaner cars and cleaner fuels.

Medium distances:



For intercity travel, 50% of all medium-distance passenger and freight transport should shift off the roads and onto rail and waterborne transport.

Long distance travel and intercontinental freight:



Air travel and ships will continue to dominate but new engines, fuels and traffic management systems will increase efficiency and reduce emissions.

Benchmarks for achieving the 60% GHG emission reduction target


The Commission has set ten goals to be achieved for a resource efficient transport system:

Developing and deploying new and sustainable fuels and propulsion systems


1. Halve the use of ‘conventionally-fuelled’ cars in urban transport by 2030 and phase them out in cities by 2050. Try to achieve essentially CO2-free city logistics in major urban centres by 2030.


2. Low-carbon sustainable fuels in aviation to reach 40% by 2050. Reduce EU CO2 emissions from maritime bunker fuels by 40% (if feasible 50%) by 2050

Optimising the performance of multimodal logistic chains, including by making greater use of more energy-efficient modes


3. 30% of road freight over 300 km should shift to other modes such as rail or waterborne transport by 2030, and more than 50% by 2050, facilitated by efficient and green freight corridors.


4. By 2050, complete a European high-speed rail network. Triple the length of the existing high-speed rail network by 2030 and maintain a dense railway network in all Member States. By 2050 the majority of medium-distance passenger transport should go by rail.


5. An EU-wide multimodal TEN-T (trans-European transport network) ‘core network’ by 2030, with a high quality and capacity network by 2050 and a corresponding set of information services.


6. By 2050, connect all core network airports to the rail network, preferably high- speed. All core seaports should be sufficiently connected to the rail freight and, where possible, inland waterway system.

Increasing the efficiency of transport and of infrastructure use with information systems and market-based incentives


7. Deployment of the modernised air traffic management infrastructure in Europe by 2020 and completion of the European Common Aviation Area. Deployment of equivalent land and waterborne transport management systems. Deployment of the European Global Navigation Satellite System (Galileo).


8. By 2020, establish the framework for a European multimodal transport information, management and payment system.


9. By 2050, move close to zero fatalities in road transport. In line with this goal, the EU aims at halving road casualties by 2020.


10. Move towards full application of “user pays” and “polluter pays” principles and private sector engagement to eliminate distortions, including harmful subsidies, generate revenues and ensure financing for future transport investments.

Transport 2050: key measures


The Transport 2050 Roadmap foresees initiatives in over 40 areas of air, rail, road, maritime and inland waterway transport. Those key measures are expected to move forwards in the period 2011-2014 in order to introduce the necessary structural changes in the transport sector and build and integrated Single European Transport Area. Some of the key measures include:


Overhaul of the regulatory framework for rail:


Need for a transformation in the rail sector so that it becomes more attractive and succeeds in carrying increased share of the market for passenger and freight over middle distances (more than 300 km) by 2050. The aim is also to triple the length of the current high-speed rail network by 2030. The Commission will bring forward a package of legislative initiatives for the rail sector in 2012-2013.

Develop core network of strategic infrastructure in order to create a Single European Transport Area.


The Commission will bring forward new proposals for a core European "multi-modal" network in 2011 with publication of trans-European transport network (TEN-T) guidelines, maps and financing proposals.


Create a fully functioning multi-modal transport system:


This would require removing bottlenecks and barriers in other parts of the network, namely with an airport package to improve the efficiency and capacity of airports (in 2011), a communication on inland waterway transport (in 2011) to remove barriers and improve efficiency inland waterways, as well as the e-maritime initiative (in 2011) for paperless and intelligent shipping — as part of the drive to create a real "Blue Belt" area, without barriers, for shipping.

Create a fair financial environment: a new approach to transport charges.


Transport charges must be restructured in the direction of a wider application of the "polluter pays" and "user pays" principle. Key measure for the coming years will include: publication of guidelines for the application of infrastructure costs to passenger cars (2012), a proposal setting a framework for the internalisation of costs to all road vehicles to cover the costs of infrastructure as well as the social costs of congestion, CO2 local pollution, noise and accidents. Member States will be free to apply these charges, but those that decide to go ahead will be able to do so within a common EU framework.

European electronic tolling systems


A European electronic toll service for lorries will become available as from October 2012, and two years later for all kinds of vehicles, ensuring that drivers can pay different tolls for the use of motorways electronically and through a single service provider for the whole of Europe.

An EU Strategic Transport Technology Plan (2011):


An initiative aiming to regroup transport research and the effective deployment of new technologies to lower transport emissions. The EU will focus EU research efforts, introduce EU-wide deployment strategies and the right market conditions to facilitate the take-up of new cleaner vehicles in cities.

Produce clean, safe, quiet vehicles for all transport modes.


Key areas will include: alternative fuels, new materials, new propulsion systems and the IT and traffic management tools to manage and integrate complex transport systems.


Publication of a clean transport systems strategy...


...in 2012, with more details on specific measures to incentivise and facilitate the introduction of clean vehicles and on developing EU wide standards for deployment of clean.

A three-part strategy for transport in cities.


Phase out conventionally fuelled cars in cities by 2050 – with a shift to electric cars, hydrogen cars, hybrid cars, to public transport, and to walking or cycling in cities. To facilitate the shift to cleaner transport in cities, the Commission will:

• Introduce procedures and financial assistance for urban mobility audits and urban mobility plans, on a voluntary basis. Examine the possibilities for regional and cohesion funds to be linked to cities and regions which have submitted urban mobility plans.
• Bring forward proposals for an EU framework for urban road user charging and access restriction schemes, for the increasing number of Member States who want to use charging schemes to alleviate congestion and shift transport patterns in cities. This will ensure that the different schemes operate within a coherent EU-wide framework, and are non-discriminatory.

For long-distance modes...



...where air travel and maritime transport will remain dominant, the focus will be to increase competitiveness and reduce emissions through:

• Modernisation of Europe's air traffic control system by 2020 and deliver a Single European Sky with shorter and safer air journeys and more capacity. The Single European Sky will deliver a 10% reduction in air journeys with a significant reduction in fuel used and emissions.
• Improvements in traffic management in order to improve efficiency and lower emissions in all transportation modes. That means the deployment of advanced land and waterborne transport management systems.

For maritime transport, the target of reducing emissions by at least 40% from bunker fuels can be met by operational measures, technical measures, including new vessel design, and low-carbon fuels.

A multi-modal travel planning and integrated ticketing:


The Single European Transport Area depends on effective and interoperable Europe-wide systems for multi-modal travel planning and integrated ticketing.

http://www.euissuetracker.com/en/focus/Pages/EU-Transport-White-Paper.aspx

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/strat...paper/white-paper-illustrated-brochure_en.pdf

 

[NSEFAN]

Brussels bureaucrats ...

'Nuff said, really.

Looking at the info from euissuetracker, it seems to mainly focus on charging for cars, and also says that there is no obligation for member states to apply the charges. How the hell did the DM get from this to "cut in rail subsidy and rising fares" ? Typical shoddy reporting... :roll:

 

[Ferret]

'Nuff said, really.

Looking at the info from euissuetracker, it seems to mainly focus on charging for cars, and also says that there is no obligation for member states to apply the charges. How the hell did the DM get from this to "cut in rail subsidy and rising fares" ? Typical shoddy reporting... :roll:

Standard stuff really, type out the worst case scenario and present it as fact, just like some newspapers always do!

 

[90019]

'Nuff said, really.

Looking at the info from euissuetracker, it seems to mainly focus on charging for cars, and also says that there is no obligation for member states to apply the charges. How the hell did the DM get from this to "cut in rail subsidy and rising fares" ? Typical shoddy reporting... :roll:

Never let facts get in the way of a good rant and the chance to get your readers outraged about the EU.

 

[sonorguy]

One of my favourite jokes;

How do you confuse a Daily Mail/Express reader (delete as applicable)?

Tell them that the illegal immigrant is the natural predator of the paedophile.....

 

[Metroland]

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/265047/Brussels-threatens-huge-rail-fare-rises

Funny you should say that...

Be interesting to see OT's point of view on this story.

 

[Minilad]

The only thing to worry about here is that some people actually believe anything written in the Daily Mail

 

[dggar]

One of my favourite jokes;

How do you confuse a Daily Mail/Express reader (delete as applicable)?

Tell them that the illegal immigrant is the natural predator of the paedophile.....

You forgot the bit about causing or curing cancer

 

[PaulLothian]

Considering we are supposed to have the least subsidised railways in Europe, it should be less of a problem for the UK than everyone else!

The Daily Mail in the silly season - never known to let accuracy get in the way of a good rant!

 

[yorksrob]

"Triple the length of the existing high-speed rail network by 2030 and maintain a dense railway network in all Member States. By 2050 the majority of medium-distance passenger transport should go by rail."

"private sector engagement to eliminate distortions, including harmful subsidies, generate revenues and ensure financing for future transport investments"

I think they're living in a dreamworld if they think these two are remotely compatible. There are what appear to be some good ideas, spoilt by the sort of free market hocus-pocus that our own Governments have swallowed.

 

[The Crab]

The Daily Mail's silly season runs from 1st Jan - 31st Dec.

 

[Greenback]

I think they're living in a dreamworld if they think these two are remotely compatible. There are what appear to be some good ideas, spoilt by the sort of free market hocus-pocus that our own Governments have swallowed.

The EU Commission in a dream world? Surely not!

Seriously, you are quite correct, particularly with the hocus pocus bit!

 

[yorksrob]

The EU Commission in a dream world? Surely not!

Seriously, you are quite correct, particularly with the hocus pocus bit!

Maybe that bit will get quietly forgotten about

 

[WatcherZero]

The ironic thing is the Daily Mails complaining about this when its already Conservative Government Policy!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

All that you have to concentrate on is the final line of the statement, which paints a somewhat different picture to the "silly season" reasoning in the rest of the quoted statement.

 

[yorksrob]

To be fair to the Government, as I understand it, their policy is to reverse the proportions of the railway paid for by the farepayer/taxpayer (currently around 40/60 apparently). It's quite a leap to go from that to saying that subsidy by its very nature somehow "harmful" and a "distortion". That's way into fruitcake territory by my reckoning.

 

[Greenback]

Some of the comments on the Daily Mail site are very entertaining. I love the one that says move all the jobs to the country!

 

[imagination]

I think the word harmful is the key one here - ie referring to subsidies that are, for example, harmful to competition, or subsidising things that have strong negative externalities.

 

[Greenback]

It's all about interpretation. A competitor, like a coach company, could say any subsidy was harmful.

 

[OuterDistant]

If you are interested in half-truths, quackery or are obsessed with cancer, you read the Daily Mail.

And if you are clinically insane, by which I mean you get up in the morning and think you're a deckchair, you read the Express.

 

[Bevan Price]

The only thing to worry about here is that some people actually believe anything written in the Daily Mail

Even worse, some people believe anything they see in any paper. Why else would so many politicians think it important not to offend Mr M or other media owners.

 

[starrymarkb]

It's not on Euromyths yet. Though the papers recently claimed that a new EU law would mean the EU flag on sport strips. The EU has pointed out that this is a private members bill from a single MEP that hasn't been discussed or voted on yet and the chances of it being passed were next to nothing!

Our native MPs can come up with equally crackpot Private Members Bills on occasion, very rarely do they get past the initial debate

 

[yorksrob]

It's all about interpretation. A competitor, like a coach company, could say any subsidy was harmful.

Quite. I wouldn't fancy trying to pick through the current system to try and identify exactly which Government pounds went to support what.

Imagine, you have a TOC in rural England. It has rural branchlines which require subsidy. However, the local bus company might decide that it is infact abstracting its own revenue etc etc.

 

[IanXC]

"Triple the length of the existing high-speed rail network by 2030 and maintain a dense railway network in all Member States. By 2050 the majority of medium-distance passenger transport should go by rail."

"private sector engagement to eliminate distortions, including harmful subsidies, generate revenues and ensure financing for future transport investments"

I think they're living in a dreamworld if they think these two are remotely compatible. There are what appear to be some good ideas, spoilt by the sort of free market hocus-pocus that our own Governments have swallowed.

From what I've studied over the years this is pretty usual for the EU.

The "maintain a dense railway network" is for a certain audience, and the "eliminate harmful subsidies" bit is for another audience.

The Commission will have written a paper of this nature so that by the time its been through the European Parliament (who will either reject the whole thing, or compromise by keeping both the incompatible bits in with some unfathomable deal between the EPP and the Socialists) and the European Council, they can whip out a more plausible version, and trade it off against some other policy area between the member states.

I'm confident that 'maintaining a dense railway network' is much higher on the Commissions agenda than 'eliminating harmful subsidies'. This is of course the organisation that brings you the Common Agricultural Policy...

 

[yorksrob]

I'm confident that 'maintaining a dense railway network' is much higher on the Commissions agenda than 'eliminating harmful subsidies'. This is of course the organisation that brings you the Common Agricultural Policy...

I'd certainly hope that that would be the case. Providing they don't decide to trade in "maintaining a dense railway" for something rubbish

 

[mallard]

I'd certainly hope that that would be the case. Providing they don't decide to trade in "maintaining a dense railway" for something rubbish

Well, certain bodies charged with the running the railway are definitely quite "dense"!