Austrian railway news – Page 7
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NewsDisputed double-deck EMU contract awarded to Stadler again
AUSTRIA: Stadler has once again been named the winner of a disputed 10-year framework contract to supply Austria Federal Railways with up to 186 double-deck electric multiple-units worth €3bn.
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NewsBusiness class lights upgraded
AUSTRIA: ÖBB has selected a reading light from German supplier TSL-ESCHA for a refresh of the business class saloon on its premium Railjet inter-city services. According to TSL-ESCHA, the TSL BL18 reading light features a 270 mm long flexible arm that can be adjusted by passengers, ...
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Metro Report InternationalSix operators award joint contract for up to 504 tram-trains
EUROPE: A consortium of six German and Austrian transport bodies has awarded Stadler a framework contract for the supply and maintenance of up 504 tram-trains worth €4bn, the largest contract in the Swiss company’s history. The VDV TramTrain framework contract was awarded on January 14 by ...
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Metro Report InternationalCutting-edge passenger information on Wien Series X trains
AUSTRIA: Wiener Linien’s Series X metro trainsets, due to be introduced this year on U-Bahn lines U1 to U4, will be fitted with an advanced passenger information system branded Passenger Info Plus. Developed by Siemens subsidiary Hacon in co-operation with the operator, the technology unveiled on ...
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NewsFortescue orders EMD Joule battery locomotives
AUSTRALIA: Fortescue Metals Group has ordered two EMD Joule battery locomotives from Progress Rail for use on its iron ore railway in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Offering an energy storage capacity of 14·5 MWh, the eight-axle BE14.5BB locomotives will be manufactured at Progress Rail’s ...
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NewsMattigtal line electrified
AUSTRIA: Electric services have started operating on the southern 4 km of ÖBB’s Mattigtal branch between Steindorf bei Straßwalchen and Friedburg, northeast of Salzburg, following the completion of a €23·3m electrification project.
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NewsAustria increases 2022-27 investment as KlimaTicket launched
AUSTRIA: An €18·2bn investment framework for Austrian Federal Railways covering 2022-27 was approved by the council of ministers on November 3. Taking climate change mitigation targets into account, it is a modification of an earlier plan covering 2021-26 which envisaged a slightly lower spend of €17·5bn. ...
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Urban In DepthWien: U2xU5 Linienkreuz reshapes the U-Bahn
As part of a smart mobility strategy aimed at reducing car use, construction is in full swing to expand Wien’s U-Bahn network. Diverting Line U2 and building the fully automated Line U5 will increase capacity by around 30%.
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NewsAutomated brake test system development completed
EUROPE: Austrian company PJM has completed the technical development of an automated brake testing system which it envisaged could save up to 45 min when preparing a 500 m long freight train. The system has been extensively tested on 200 SBB Cargo wagons, and approvals are ...
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Metro Report InternationalWien approves northern tram expansion
AUSTRIA: The Wien city government has approved the construction of a new tram route serving the Aspern district, as a branch off the orbital Strebersdorf – Hausfeldstrasse route 26 on the northern side of the River Donau.
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Metro Report InternationalFinancing agreed for Wien’s U2xU5 metro extensions
AUSTRIA: The national government and the City of Wien have agreed a 50:50 split for financing the €6bn second phase of the U2xU5 metro expansion package, which covers extensions to both lines.
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NewsDB begins work to electrify to the Austrian border
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has begun work to install 15 kV 16·7 Hz electrification on a 1·5 km section of line between Pfronten-Steinach and the Austrian border at Schönbichl. This will allow electric operation of trains to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and München via Austria’s Ausserfernbahn, which is not connected ...
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NewsFirst new Nightjet stock ready for testing
AUSTRIA: The first two vehicles for Austrian Federal Railways’ new fleet of Nightjet overnight trainsets have been dispatched from Siemens Mobility’s Simmering plant in Wien for the start of testing and certification. The first vehicles to be released are a push-pull driving trailer seated car and an ...
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NewsWestbahn unveils Kiss 3 double-deck EMUs to celebrate sustainable travel pass
AUSTRIA: Open access operator Westbahn has unveiled the first of 15 third-generation six-car Kiss trainsets. Ordered from Stadler under a €300m full-service contract in October 2019, the double-deck EMUs are due to carry their first fare-paying passengers on September 9. Westbahn announced during a press trip ...
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NewsDesiro EMUs ordered to meet Vorarlberg capacity needs
AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply 21 Desiro ML electric multiple-units for use on local and regional services in Vorarlberg from the end of 2022. The ÖBB supervisory board approved the order on August 16. An order had previously been ...
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NewsÖBB orders 20 more night train sets
AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways has ordered a further 20 seven-car sets of Viaggio Next Level coaches from Siemens Mobility for use on Nightjet overnight services. The order announced on August 10 is the second to be placed under a 2018 framework agreement covering up to 700 vehicles. ...
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NewsKarawanken tunnel reopened
EUROPE: Cross-border rail services have resumed on the Villach – Ljubljana route between Austria and Slovenia, following the completion of a 10-month refurbishment of the Karawanken tunnel. Dating from 1906, the 7 975 m bore had been closed to all traffic from September 7 ...
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In depthCentral & Eastern Europe: Rail at heart of recovery package
Railways across central and eastern Europe stand to benefit as member states submit their national post-Covid recovery plans to the EU in order to access temporary stimulus funds. Toma Bačić provides a snapshot of proposals from five countries.
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NewsCRRC Zhuzhou rolls out double-deck Westbahn EMU
AUSTRIA: The first of four double-deck electric multiple-units being built for use by open access operator Westbahn GmbH has been rolled out for testing by CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co in China’s Hunan province.
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NewsBrenner Base Tunnel opening postponed
EUROPE: The target date for opening the 55 km Brenner Base Tunnel to revenue services has been postponed from 2030 until 2032, project promoter BBT SE has confirmed. Admitting that the previous timelines were too optimistic, BBT SE said the revised schedule would take into account ...