The EU is considering major changes to the continent's rail network, designed to make it easier and cheaper for companies to move goods by rail.

MEPs on the European parliament's transport committee yesterday voted unanimously in favour of proposals that would require the EU to spend a minimum of 40 per cent of its transport infrastructure budget on improving the rail network, and streamline regulations to promote greater transport of freight by rail.

Speaking to BusinessGreen.com, a spokesman for the transport committee said that the main aim of the proposals was to make it easier and more cost effective for firms to move goods by rail and consequently reduce the environmental impact of their supply chains.

He added that as well as increasing spending on rail freight routes and hubs, the proposals would also look to unify member states regulations to create an " open" rail network.

"There are lots of border problems and we want to improve interoperability so that ultimately you could transport goods by rail from Lisbon to Liverpool without changing trains all the time," he said. "There is one European road network in that the same lorry driver can drive in any country, but there is not one European rail network because you often have to change drivers from country to country."

The proposals will now go before the full European parliament for a vote this October, with a view to them ultimately being adopted by the Commission.

In related news, the parliament's environment committee this week voted in favour of tougher emissions rules for trucks, lorries and buses. MEPs said they wanted the "Euro VI" regulations requiring lower caps on emissions of Nitrogen Oxide and particulates from heavy goods vehicles to come into effect from the start of 2014, nine months earlier than the Commission had proposed.