• Glossy’ high-speed rail can threaten commuter services – UITP

    A new report says there is a significant danger that rail will not be able to play its full role as an environmental means of transport if too much focus is put on long-distance services.

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    The report by the International Association for Public Transport (UITP), a T&E member, says the use of regional and commuter trains helps Europe avoid 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, but focusing on “glossy” international rail projects could hinder the development of suburban railways.

    The UITP is particularly concerned about the EU’s third railway package, currently in second reading in the European Parliament, as legislation on international passenger rights and certification of train crews will be extended to all local rail. In addition, many rules related to cross-border operations will be applied to suburban and regional services.

    Hans Rat, the UITP’s secretary-general, said: “The EU focuses too much on glossy trans-European projects, such as high-speed trains. It needs to direct its attention towards regional projects that play a decisive role for the revitalisation of cities.”

    The UITP says short-distance rail carries nearly 7 billion passengers in Europe per year, compared with 1.25bn over the past 25 years for France’s high-speed TGV.

    TOBACCO TACTICS

    A report from the Union of Concerned Scientists offers further information on “disinformation tactics” used by the US oil giant ExxonMobil.

    The UCS describes its report Smoke, Mirrors & Hot Air as “the most comprehensive documentation to date of how ExxonMobil has adopted the tobacco industry’s disinformation tactics, as well as some of the same organisations and personnel, to cloud the scientific understanding of climate change and delay action on the issue.”

    Alden Meyer of the Washington-based UCS said: “A modest but effective investment of less than $16 million between 1998 and 2005, paid to a network of 43 advocacy organisations, has allowed the oil giant to fuel doubt about global warming to delay government action.”

    This news story is taken from the February 2007 edition of T&E Bulletin.