Allianz pro Schiene

Allianz pro Schiene e.V. (The Pro-Rail Alliance) (www.allianz-pro-schiene.de) is the German alliance for the promotion of environmentally friendly and safe rail transport. It is an independent umbrella organisation that unites non-profit organisations and the commercial sector for the purpose of lobbying on behalf of the railways.

The Pro-Rail Alliance is made up of 18 non-profit organisations that have joined together to support the railways for non-material reasons: the environmental organisations BUND, NABU, Deutsche Umwelthilfe and NaturFreunde Deutschlands; the consumer groups Pro Bahn, DBV and VCD; the automobile clubs ACE and ACV; all three rail unions EVG and GDL; the rail organisations BDEF, BF Bahnen, FEANDC, VBB and VDEI; the Technical University of Applied Sciences in Wildau and the German Conference of Christian Railway Missions (http://www.allianz-pro-schiene.de/ueber-uns/mitglieder/). These member organisations represent over two million individual members.

The alliance is funded and backed by over 100 supporting members from the railway sector (http://www.allianz-pro-schiene.de/ueber-uns/foerderer/). These include train and infrastructure operators, manufacturers of railway equipment, construction companies, banks, insurance companies and others.

The main aim of the Pro-Rail Alliance is to increase the market share of the railways, both for passenger transport and freight transport. The medium term target (by 2020) is to reach a market share of at least 15 percent for rail passenger transport and at least 25 percent for rail freight. The alliance aims also at maintaining and increasing the railway's superior environmental and safety record.

The alliance concentrates its efforts on lobbying and the media. As part of its lobby activities it holds talks with politicians, takes part in parliamentary hearings and provides expert opinion on draft legislation. The alliance is very active in the media to ensure that rail-related issues are debated in the public domain. Its media campaigns are intended to create a good image for rail transport and put public pressure on decision makers. The alliance has been participating in European projects (http://www.allianz-pro-schiene.de/eng/eu-projects/).

• 11/09 Fall-back plan needed after Rastatt disaster
• 12/06 Siemens manager is new spokesman for supporting members
• 30/05 Germany to ban noisy freight wagons by the end of 2020
• 17/02 Night trains: loved by passengers, hindered by politicians
• 23/01 Comparison of transport modes: trains safer than buses and cars
• 01/12 One billion travellers on Europe’s automated metro systems
• 28/11 Three key demands for the next government
• 15/11 Climate Action Plan: CO2 reduction targets of 40 percent for transport sector by 2050
• 25/08 Station of the Year: Stralsund and Steinheim win awards
• 29/07 Federal infrastructure plan: rail projects unfinished
• 22/07 TU Berlin joins German Pro-Rail Alliance
• 13/07 EU Index: German rail network poorly funded
• 12/07 Need for modal shift in transport is beyond dispute
• 01/07 Commuters support video surveillance on trains
• 20/06 Barrier-free access for 108 minor railway stations
• 13/05 Transport infrastructure plan: rail sector “disappointed”
• 29/10 Train Station of the Year 2015: celebrations for the winning station