Europe
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In depthViewpoint: French lessons from North America
Radical changes to France’s state-owned rail freight sector are needed following the threat of punitive action from the European Commission. Iker de Luisa, General Manager of the Mexican railway industry association, asks what lessons can be learnt from America.
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NewsAlstom selected to renew Portuguese regional fleets
PORTUGAL: CP has named Alstom and local partner Domingos da Silva Teixeira as preferred bidder for a contract to supply 117 electric multiple-units.
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NewsFurther upgrading of Portuguese narrow-gauge line approved
PORTUGAL: The government has approved a further package of work to rehabilitate a section of the last remaining narrow-gauge line on the national network.
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NewsPajares cut-off opens to plug Asturias into Spanish high speed network
SPAIN: Following almost 20 years of construction, public passenger services began using the Pajares Base Tunnel through the Cordillera Cantábrica mountain range in the north of the country on November 30.
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NewsCross-border passenger services resume after eight years
EUROPE: Passenger services have restarted on the 45 km line linking Subotica in Serbia with Szeged in Hungary after an eight-year hiatus. An inauguration ceremony was held at Palić station in Serbia on November 28 and was attended by Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport & Infrastructure ...
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NewsERA authorises Nightjet coaches for international operation
EUROPE: An initial batch of Siemens Mobility-built Nightjet coaches ordered by Austrian Federal Railways has been approved by ERA for use in Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.
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NewsFirst Omneo Premium EMU to work Marseille – Nice service unveiled
Photo: Alstom / Samuel Dhote FRANCE: Alstom, Transdev and Région Sud have unveiled the first Omneo Premium electric multiple-unit to operate Marseille – Toulon – Nice services in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur area. Unveiled at Alstom’s Crespin plant on November 23, the first unit is expected to visit ...
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NewsInfrabel orders Alstom self-encoding Eurobalises
BELGIUM: Infrabel has ordered an initial batch of advanced Eurobalises from Alstom with a built-in encoding capability for use with ETCS Level 1 Limited Supervision as well as track worker protection. Eurobalises are used to transmit safety-critical data from track to train in ERTMS applications, typically ...
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NewsAlstom wins €300m Paris RER CBTC framework
FRANCE: Alstom is to equip lines B and D of the Paris RER network with the NExTEO train control system.
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Rail Business UKUK rail freight still playing catch-up, warns Shoveller
UK: Britain’s rail freight sector has work to do to catch up with road haulage in the race to digitalise its operations, according to Tim Shoveller, CEO of Freightliner’s parent company Genesee & Wyoming’s UK and European operations.
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NewsRegioJet selected for ‘largest ever’ Czech operating contract
CZECH REPUBLIC: RegioJet announced on November 23 that it had been selected by the Ústecký region to operate subsidised passenger services on six regional lines. The contract will run for 15 years, starting from the December 2026 timetable change. RegioJet’s KC18·3bn offer was chosen over that ...
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NewsIryo reports strong first year as Spanish high speed traffic grows again
SPAIN: Iryo carried 5·2 million passengers at an average load factor of more than 65% in its first year of operation.
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NewsSpain to expand rail motorway network
SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF is developing plans for a ‘rail motorway’ corridor to carry lorry trailers by rail between Zaragoza, Lleida and Tarragona. ADIF is currently upgrading the mostly single-track electrified line by lengthening passing loops to 750 m at Selgua, Marcén-Poleñino, Almudévar, Juneda and Raimat ...
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Metro Report InternationalRostock tram extension plans to be developed
GERMANY: The city of Rostock has selected a western alignment as its preferred option for a proposed tramway extension from Zoo to Reutershagen. An eastern variant was also under consideration before the decision on November 15. Reutershagen has around 18 000 ...
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NewsNew Generation Signals delay Dutch rail projects
NETHERLANDS: Infrastructure manager ProRail has announced delays to rail enhancement projects as a result of problems approving its New Generation Signals. The New Generation Signals are smaller than older designs, and safety testing has identified visibility problems in certain circumstances. This will prevent their use ...
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NewsMultiple-unit with an 18-month delivery time unveiled
GERMANY: Siemens Mobility has unveiled its first Mireo Smart multiple-unit. This has been developed to offer an affordable price and a short delivery time, with a train able to be in service with a regional or commuter rail operator within 18 months of an order being ...
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In depthTechnology: Innovation must come faster
Wheel-rail interaction and the need to accelerate the pace of innovation were hot topics at the 48th Conference on Modern Rolling Stock held in Graz on September 17-19. Reinhard Christeller reports.
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Metro Report InternationalNapoli Arcobaleno line fleet renewal starts
ITALY: CAF has delivered the first of 10 six-car Inneo metro trainsets ordered by Napoli regional transport EAV for use on the 10·5 km Arcobaleno line between Piscinola Scampia and Aversa Centro in the north of the city. An order for ...
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NewsNorth Macedonia and Serbia plan Skopje – Niš route upgrade
EUROPE: A memorandum of understanding for the planned upgrading of the 206 km Skopje – Niš route has been signed by officials from North Macedonia and Serbia. This is likely to include modernisation of the existing single-track route and eventually the construction of sections of ...
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NewsDate set for Luxembourg Rail Protocol to enter into force
INTERNATIONAL: The Luxembourg Rail Protocol to the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment is to enter into force in contracting states on March 8 2024, the intergovernmental ratification task force has announced.