Europe
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NewsAbellio Deutschland sold to BeNEX
EUROPE: German regional operator BeNEX is to acquire Abellio’s German subsidiary from Dutch national operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The transaction covers the shares in Germany held by ATH Rail Transport Beteiligungsgesellschaft Deutschland GmbH and includes Abellio Rail Mitteldeutschland GmbH Halle (Saale) and Westfalenbahn GmbH Bielefeld, as well ...
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Metro Report InternationalSiemens to upgrade København S-bane for driverless operation
DENMARK: Siemens Mobility has been awarded a €270m contract to equip the 170 km S-bane network in København for GoA4 unattended operations. In 2017, the government decided in principle that the standalone suburban network electrified at 1·5 kV DC should transition to unattended driverless operation at ...
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NewsNext-generation Railjets enter service to link three countries
EUROPE: Austrian Federal Railways has put into service the first of its updated Railjet trainsets on services linking Germany, Austria and Italy. Toma Bačić rode on a preview run between München and Verona on April 5.
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News‘Price dumping’ row mars Ouigo’s latest expansion
SPAIN: SNCF’s low-cost subsidiary Ouigo has further expanded its operations in Spain, launching Madrid – Valladolid services on April 19, consisting of two return trips per day. Single fares start at €9, and initially 14 000 tickets per week have been made available. The operator could ...
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NewsElectrification of two Dutch regional railways funded
NETHERLANDS: The government has confirmed co-funding for the electrification for two regional lines in the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland.
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NewsStadler’s Spanish suburban EMUs on test
SPAIN: The first of 44 double-deck EMUs which Stadler is supplying to RENFE are now being tested at the manufacturer’s plant at Albuixech near València. In March 2021, RENFE placed a contract which covered an initial 24 EMUs 100 m long and 25 sets 200 m ...
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In depthInterview: Eurofima adapts to a changing market
Eurofima Chief Executive Dr Christoph Pasternak explains to Nick Kingsley how the supra-national rolling stock financing body is tweaking its strategy to reduce its reliance on the European state railways that currently make up its shareholders.
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NewsParis Line C investment plan outlined
Photos: Jérémie Anne FRANCE: Paris regional transport authority Ile-de-France-Mobilités has set out revised plans to develop RER Line C, one of the busiest and most operationally challenging in the conurbation. Line C is 176 route-km long and features six branches; it carries up to 540 000 ...
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NewsStars align for night train service
BELGIUM: Support for overnight train services from Belgium is coming from an unexpected source, according to one of the more unusual missives to reach the Railway Gazette International inbox. According to a Verdic astrologer from India, the recent extension of European Sleeper’s Brussels – Berlin service ...
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NewsShining a light on Dutch depots
NETHERLANDS: Local company Raillighting has developed a low-cost lighting assembly for illuminating walkways and other work zones which can be rapidly installed by hand. Branded Railpuck Luminaire, the lights are primarily intended to illuminate the paths and walkways used by staff to access depot buildings and ...
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In depthPortugal: South International Corridor nears completion
Trains have started running on the first section of the 80 km Évora – Elvas direct line, which is now expected to open in 2025, shortening the TEN-T corridor serving ports in southern Portugal and paving the way for a revival of international passenger services. André Pires reports.
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NewsRZD orders high speed trains for revived Moscow – St Petersburg project
RUSSIA: Russian Railways has signed a contract with Ural Locomotives for the supply of two pre-series high speed trainsets to operate its planned Moscow – St Petersburg high speed line. RZD is making a further attempt to develop a new line between its two most strategically ...
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NewsTalgo Avril high speed trainsets to enter service in May
SPAIN: National operator RENFE has taken delivery of its first 10 Talgo S106 Avril wide-bodied high speed trainsets. The trains are to be deployed from May 21 on services to Galicia and Asturias where gauge-changing is necessary., allowing the existing S130 sets to be cascaded to ...
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NewsTrenitalia seeks more business in France
EUROPE: Italian national operator Trenitalia is seeking to expand its presence in the French market by growing both its domestic high speed services and by providing more international links.
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NewsRailcoop on brink of liquidation as financing gap stymies restructuring hope
FRANCE: Open access co-operative Railcoop is expected to be formally liquidated on April 29, the company President Nicolas Debaisieux has confirmed. The collapse of the co-operative comes after it was placed into judicial administration on October 16 for a period of up to six months. With ...
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In depthSpain: Plan de Cercanías promises an end to inaction
Over the past three decades, much of Spain’s rail investment has been channelled into its expanding high speed network. Government plans now envisage a substantial boost for suburban services which account for 90% of all ridership. Mike Bent investigates.
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NewsLeShuttle terminals readied for EU border check changes
EUROPE: Channel Tunnel operator Getlink has completed a key stage of work at its French road vehicle shuttle train terminal in Coquelles in preparation for implementing the European Union’s Entry/Exit System on October 6 this year.
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NewsUkraine begins construction of standard gauge European rail link
UKRAINE: Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal attended a ceremony on April 11 marking the start of work to provide a standard gauge track on the 22 km broad gauge route from Chop on the borders with Hungary and Slovakia to the city of Uzhhorod. ‘This project will ...
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NewsStadler selected for Bulgarian double-deck train order
BULGARIA: Stadler has been selected to supply seven double-deck electric multiple-units for use by national passenger operator BDZ . Stadler’s bid came in at 301m leva, including 15 years of maintenance, with a delivery time of 26 months. The 200 km/h units will have a capacity ...