Europe – Page 30
-
In depthSignalling: Low-cost ETCS to support regional roll-out
Kombud Group is developing a range of ETCS products to provide cost-effective interoperability on regional lines. Benjámin Zelki reports from the manufacturer’s newly opened plant in Radom.
-
NewsChemins de Fer du Jura interlocking contract awarded
SWITZERLAND: Chemins de Fer du Jura has awarded Stadler Signalling a SFr4·3m contract to renew signalling systems at Tavannes and Orange by 2027. This forms part of the railway’s project to modernise its Tavannes – Le Noirmont line to improve services and cater for the growing ...
-
NewsWaberer’s acquires majority stake in GySEV Cargo
HUNGARY: Hungarian logistics company Waberer’s International signed an agreement on December 23 to acquire a 62·5% stake in Hungarian-Austrian rail freight company GySEV Cargo. The remaining stakes remain with GySEV, which had held 100% of shares prior the acquisition. Closing of the transaction is expected by ...
-
In depthInterview: It is time to embrace open source software
Set up by UIC and three national railways, the recently formed Open Rail Association is seeking to grow its membership to drive adoption of open source software in the rail market, as Swiss Federal Railways’ CIO Jochen Decker and Nicole Göbel, Chief Executive of Deutsche Bahn’s information technology arm DB Systel, explain to Nick Kingsley.
-
News‘Co-operation between historic operators’ sees Ouigo low-cost trains reach Brussels
EUROPE: In what the two incumbents term ‘a co-operation between historic operators’, SNCF and SNCB have launched a low-cost loco-hauled Ouigo service between Paris and Brussels.
-
Metro Report InternationalMinsk trams delivered
BELARUS: Belkommunmash has delivered 20 Type T811 low-floor four-axle trams to Minsk transport operator Minsktrans.
-
In depthRegional Railways: A reversal of fortunes in Catalunya
Threatened with closure in the mid-1980s, Catalunya’s Lleida – La Pobla de Segur branch has been revitalised by the regional government over the past two decades. Targeted investment is paying off with steadily increasing ridership, reports Mike Bent.
-
NewsHigh speed bypass line contract awarded
SPAIN: High speed rail infrastructure manager ADIF Alta Velocidad has awarded Sacyr Construcción a €49m contract to build 6·3 km of the future 19 km Loja bypass on the high speed line from Antequera to Granada. The double-track bypass will start near Los Abades service area on ...
-
NewsRER NG trains launched on Line D as Paris fleet renewal accelerates
FRANCE: The renewal of the rolling stock fleet used on the RER suburban network around Paris is continuing, with the latest generation RER NG trainsets entering service on Line D in December. The RER NG fleet comprises two subclasses, Z58000 for Line E and Z58500 for ...
-
In depthRegional Railways: Technology offers hope of secondary line revival
Around 17 000 km of abandoned or poorly used lines in France and Germany could be revived using small, frequent or on-demand vehicles as part of a decarbonisation drive. Thanks to rapidly progressing technologies with minimal investment and low operating costs, there is an opportunity to tap political support to make them a reality. Reinhard Christeller reports.
-
NewsMoskva – St Petersburg high speed line financing agreement signed
RUSSIA: Agreements on the organisational structure, financing and risk allocation for the Moskva – St Petersburg high speed rail project were signed on December 23. A syndicate of lenders including Sovcombank, Sberbank and VTB has been formed to finance the project. Sberbank will organise two syndicated ...
-
In depthSoutheast Europe: Recovery fund provides a belated catalyst for Romania
The European Union’s Recovery & Resilience Fund is the latest opportunity to fund much-needed improvements in the Romanian rail network, but the looming deadline for project completion is proving tough to meet. Toma Bačić explains.
-
NewsHeavy steel train tests digital automatic couplers in real-world conditions
SWEDEN: The country’s heaviest freight trains outside the iron ore sector are being used to test digital automatic couplers in real-world conditions. DAC equipment from Dellner and Voith has been fitted to wagons used on daily 3 800 tonne trains which Green Cargo uses to transport ...
-
NewsVilnius, Riga and Tallinn linked by co-ordinated passenger trains
EUROPE: The national passenger train operators of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have launched co-ordinated services to make it more practical to travel between Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn by rail.
-
NewsVinkovci – Vukovar line electrified
CROATIA: Minister of the Sea, Transport & Infrastructure Oleg Butković attended a ceremony on December 18 to mark the completion of work to renew and electrify the Vinkovci – Vukovar line. The €61m project 85% co-financed by the EU included modernisation of the 18·7 km single ...
-
NewsHeavy duty wagons ordered for military transport in the Arctic
EUROPE: Finland’s VR FleetCare has won an international tender to design and build wagons for the transport of tanks and other heavy military equipment in Arctic conditions. The order placed by Norwegian rail infrastructure manager Bane Nor on December 20 on behalf of the Norwegian and ...
-
NewsSNCF orders 22 Oxygène trains for Bordeaux – Marseille route
FRANCE: SNCF Voyageurs has awarded CAF a firm order to supply a further 22 Oxygène trainsets for inter-city services between Bordeaux and Marseille. In 2019 the national passenger operator ordered an initial 28 10-car Z26700 trainsets for the Paris – Limoges – Toulouse and Paris – ...
-
Metro Report InternationalAccessibility changes in latest Vitoria-Gasteiz tram order
SPAIN: Euskotren has awarded CAF a €20m contract to supply three more trams to Vitoria-Gasteiz in the second half of 2027. Announcing the contract on December 11, CAF said the additional vehicles would be same length as the seven-section Urbos trams it previously supplied to the ...
-
Rail Business UKUK firm wins rolling stock electronics export orders
EUROPE: British electronic and electro-mechanical component and systems supplier LPA Group has announced three export orders in the rail sector with a total value of £4m. SNCF Voyageurs has ordered bespoke interior LED lighting for retrofitting to regional and inter-city fleets over the next five years. ...
-
NewsSwiss trains switch to 100% renewable electricity
SWITZERLAND: Swiss Federal Railways trains are using electricity entirely from renewable sources from January 1.