Europe – Page 31
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In depthSoutheast Europe: EU funding underpins Bulgarian route modernisation schemes
Financial support from Brussels is lending much-needed momentum to a long-running programme of route modernisation on the key rail axes linking Bulgaria with neighbouring countries and serving its major ports. Toma Bačić reports.
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In depthOperations: Shadow operators help to optimise commercial service
Early operator engagement is essential to ensure the success of rail projects, particularly those that are highly complex in terms of planning, contracting approach and implementation.
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NewsRegional passenger services in Grand Est stepped up further
FRANCE: The next stage of the Réseau Express Métropolitain Européen programme to increase local passenger services in the area around Strasbourg has been launched.
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NewsBerner Oberland-Bahn train delivered
SWITZERLAND: Berner Oberland-Bahnen has taken delivery of the first of 10 ABeh 4/8 electric multiple-units being supplied by Stadler. An initial six three-car sets were ordered for SFr66m in May 2022. The first was delivered on December 12, and they are to enter service on the ...
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In depthSoutheast Europe: Reforms offer a route to Georgian revival
After a long period of neglect, railways in Georgia are undergoing reform at a time when they stand to benefit from east-west trade moving via the Transcaucasian route between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.
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NewsEuroCity Direct augments Benelux push-pull services
EUROPE: A new EuroCity Direct cross-border inter-city service connecting Brussels and Amsterdam was launched with the timetable change on December 15.
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NewsEuropean Commission approves Dutch ETCS grants to promote modal shift
NETHERLANDS: The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules a €41m Dutch scheme to promote the shift of freight from road to rail by providing direct grants for the installation of upgraded versions of ETCS onboard equipment. The scheme will run from January 1 2025 ...
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NewsEBRD loan for Ukrainian electric loco order
UKRAINE: The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development is lending €300m to finance the acquisition of electric locomotives by national railway Ukrzaliznytsia. The latest EBRD loan announced on December 18 will be co-financed by a parallel grant of up to US$190m from the USA, administered by ...
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Metro Report InternationalComplex custom tram junction produced for Bremen
GERMANY: Czech turnout manufacturer DTVS in Prostějov has completed a €2m six-month project to manufacture a custom-design complex junction 82 m long and weighing 162 tonnes for the Bremen tramway. ‘This particular project involves an enormous and complex structure with various combinations ...
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NewsFrench night train fleet renewal tender expected
FRANCE: Tenders are to be called in early 2025 for the renewal of SNCF’s night train fleet. The plans were confirmed to local media by Pierre-Christophe Soncarrieu, the deputy director of the transport ministry’s Trains d’Équilibre du Territoire regional trains division responsible for overnight services. The ...
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Rail Business UKRail cyber-resilience collaboration
INTERNATIONAL: A memorandum of understanding to collaborate on enhancing the cyber-resilience of rail operations was signed by rail cybersecurity specialist RazorSecure, Mitsubishi Electric Corp, Mitsubishi Electric Europe and EKE Electronics during the 18th UK-Japan Rail Working Group hosted by the Department for Transport in London on ...
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NewsHungary mulls transfer of more services to GySEV
HUNGARY: The government is expected to transfer the operation of several services in the west of the country from the incumbent to GySEV in 2025 after it acquired a greater stake in the cross-border railway company earlier this year.
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NewsPortuguese border link partially reopened
PORTUGAL: Rail services have resumed on a section of the Beira Alta line in the north of the country, which provides the principal connection between the Porto – Lisboa main line and the Spanish border at Vilar Formoso. The resumption of traffic on the 38 km ...
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NewsNevomo and Captrain launch MagRail Booster trials on steelworks railway
GERMANY: Rail automation and maglev start-up Nevomo and freight operator Captrain Group have launched practical trials of the MagRail Booster concept at a steelworks in Bremen. The trials will be undertaken by the Hansebahn Bremen joint venture of Captrain Deutschland and steel company ArcelorMittal Bremen which ...
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NewsNS and CAF test train automation technology
NETHERLANDS: National operator NS and CAF have completed a programme of tests for automated operations. The tests had two objectives. First was to evaluate the benefits that could be derived from using GoA2 in terms of energy efficiency, punctuality and capacity. Termed ATO Endurance, the test ...
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NewsLeasing company launched to modernise Poland’s locomotive fleets
POLAND: Leasing company OnTrain has been launched to offer central European freight operators a way to replace ageing locomotive fleets, and has placed initial orders for 80 electric locos. OnTrain is majority-owned by Luxembourg based infrastructure investor Marguerite, along with privately-owned investment and asset manager Griffin ...
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NewsParis – Berlin direct high speed train service launched
EUROPE: A daily high speed train service has been launched between Paris and Berlin.
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NewsLithuanian operator orders electric locos for a ‘new era’ of rail freight
LITHUANIA: The national railway’s freight business LTG Cargo has awarded Stadler a contract to supply 17 six-axle electric locomotives, along with spare parts and three years of maintenance. There is an option for 17 more locos. The €115·7m contract announced on December 16 is Stadler’s first ...
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NewsNew owner seeks to kick-start growth as Estonian rail freight privatisation completed
ESTONIA: New owner Tiigi Keskus plans to expand the activities of privatised rail freight operator Operail, with management board member Richard Tomingas saying ‘at first glance, it seems that we must kick-start container transport’. He predicted that ‘looking to the future, the importance of rail will ...
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NewsSwiss narrow gauge railways place joint locomotive order
SWITZERLAND: Narrow gauge operators Rhätische Bahn and Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn have placed a SFr100m joint order for 11 Stadler electro-diesel locomotives. The 1 000 mm gauge locomotives will be manufactured at Stadler’s Bussnang works. Eight will be delivered to RhB and the remaining three to MGB. ...