Rail Funding and Financing

Abstract

Abstract Funding and financing arrangements for railway infrastructure in Europe are often perceived as complex and opaque. Given the large sums of public money involved, greater transparency on inputs and outputs is required. This paper aims to present an overview of rail infrastructure funding and financing in Europe based on recent evidence, and draws comparisons with the systems in the US and Japan. We also discuss a number of policy options to address the funding gap and ensure that European railways improve their financial viability and remain strong pillars of sustainable mobility in the future.