Rail noise v. railway competitiveness: The Belgian perspective

Just a little piece of high-level EU politics:

"While Belgium recognises that measures should be taken to reduce the adverse effects of railwaynoise at source, it nevertheless insists that such measures must not jeopardise the competitiveness of the railway sector."

(Special statement by Belgium on Item 12 "Greening transport, strategy for the internalisation of external costs and rail noise abatement measures addressing the existing fleet", EU Council meeting 8/9 December 2009 minutes published today)

Warning: Slow down at the border!

The European Parliament transport committee supports transnational enforcement of penalties for offences committed on the streets of another EU country.

So please, slow down from 250 km/h when leaving German motorways towards France and stop parking wherever you want when leaving France towards Germany!