RegioJet’s next EMU fleet enters testing
CZECH REPUBLIC: The first of 18 electric multiple-units which Polish manufacturer Pesa Bydgoszcz is building for RegioJet was sent to the Velim test centre for trials in late February.
Santiago suburban rail electrification, consultancy and supervision contracts awarded
CHILE: National railway group EFE Trenes de Chile has awarded more contracts for the rehabilitation of the Santiago – Melipilla and Santiago – Batuco lines to support a dense suburban rail operation.
RATP suggests ‘Team France’ approach to winning international contracts
FRANCE: Incoming RATP President Xavier Piechaczyk sets out his strategy for the incumbent Paris municipal transport operator as its home market starts to open to competition.
GB Railfreight and HyOrc to look at alternative fuels for legacy locos
UK: GB Railfreight is to work with HyOrc to investigate out what would be required to retrofit Class 66 diesel locomotives with ‘zero‑emission‑ready’ traction technology.
Turkey's next National Train nears completion
TURKEY: Production of the first ‘National High Speed Train’ with a design speed of 225 km/h has reached 90% completion, Minister of Transport & Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu has announced.
World rail freight news round-up
Business news from the world rail freight market.
Viewpoint: ‘Culture matters more than technology’ in rail digitalisation
Peter Boom of Dutch consultancy Haskoning explains to Toma Bačić why he feels digital maturity among rail organisations holds the key to successful digitalisation of the industry.
Stations: Praha Smichov rebuild blends legacy with modernity
Works to renew the station facilities, track and electrification at Praha Smíchov are now in full swing. Mojmír Nejezchleb, Deputy Director General for Infrastructure Modernisation at Správa Železnic, explains the new station alignment and the technical, safety and urban planning complexity of the project to Benjámin Zelki.
Amtrak changes long-distance rolling stock fleet replacement strategy
USA: Amtrak has revised its long-distance rolling stock fleet replacement strategy, with its previous plan to acquire double-deck coaches dropped in a favour of transitioning to a universal single-deck fleet.
France: Urbanloop promises personal transit
With contracts to deploy its technology in Abu Dhabi and two French cities in the next three years, personal rapid transit start-up Urbanloop is bringing fresh momentum to the ultra-light metro concept. Reinhard Christeller reports.
Gatineau tram project to be reviewed
CANADA: The Mobility Infra Québec centre of expertise in the implementation of complex transport projects is to review the TramGO project to build a 24 km light rail line connecting Gatineau with Ottawa.
