Europe – Page 35
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Metro Report InternationalGalway light rail line could be feasible, study finds
IRELAND: The National Transport Authority has published a study into the feasibility of developing a light rail line in Galway.
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In depthComment: Delivery is the priority
One of the key messages of InnoTrans 2024 was that railways need to focus on delivery to justify the scale of investment and maintain the political support the industry is looking for.
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NewsOperail privatisation agreement signed
ESTONIA: The purchase and sale agreement for the privatisation of national rail freight operator Operail was signed by the RailProject OÜ subsidiary of winning bidder Tiigi Keskus on October 31. The government took the decision to privatise the national rail freight transport and rolling stock maintenance ...
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Metro Report InternationalMonaco seeks cross-border underground metro proposals
MONACO: The Ministry of Public Works, Environment & Urban Development has invited proposals to develop a large park-and-ride site in France linked to the principality by a underground express metro. The design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance contract would cover a 3 500 space car park ...
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NewsHitachi Rail awarded Luxembourg ETCS contract
LUXEMBOURG: National railway CFL and Hitachi Rail have signed a framework agreement for the design and installation of ETCS Level 1 Full Supervision and simplified trackside signalling at Bettembourg and Dudelange stations. ‘This contract signing is a decisive step in our growth strategy’, said Markus Fritz, ...
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NewsEurostar confirms date for return of direct Amsterdam – London trains
EUROPE: Direct trains between Amsterdam Centraal and London will be reinstated from February 10 2025, with the opening of a higher capacity departure terminal for passengers on Eurostar’s cross-Channel service. Through services were suspended from June 15 because remodelling works meant there was no space for ...
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NewsCluj-Napoca cross-city rail project progresses
ROMANIA: Cluj-Napoca city council approved the results of a feasibility study into a 48·8 km suburban rail scheme linking Bonțida with Gârbău via the city’s main station. An application for EU funds is to be lodged before the end of the year, Mayor Emil Boc told ...
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NewsNorth Macedonia reverses rail market opening to save national operator
NORTH MACEDONIA: The government has cancelled the previous administration’s opening up of rail infrastructure access to private and foreign freight operators. Legal changes in December 2023 had opened access to the network. However, in September this year the current government reversed the liberalisation, with Minister of ...
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Metro Report InternationalMadrid trams to get mid-life overhaul
SPAIN: Madrid tram operator Metro Ligero Oeste has appointed manufacturer Alstom to undertake the mid-life general overhaul of the 27 Citadis vehicles which has been in operation since the opening of lines ML2 and ML3 in 2007. The contract announced on October 29 includes the inspection and ...
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In depthInterview: ‘No limit’ on the potential of French high speed market
While its planned high speed services linking Bordeaux with Rennes and Nantes are still in gestation, French new entrant Le Train believes it can establish itself as the largest private operator in an increasingly crowded domestic market. CEO Alain Getraud and Deputy Chief Executive Catherine Pihan-Le Bars explain their vision to Nick Kingsley.
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Metro Report InternationalLisboa metro orders more trains
PORTUGAL: Metropolitano de Lisboa has awarded Stadler a €134m contract to supply 24 three-car metro trainsets, with an option for up to 12 more. The contract signed on October 30 is the second the operator has awarded to Stadler, after a 2021 order for 14 trainsets ...
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NewsEifel railway electrification begins
GERMANY: Work to electrify the 164 km line through the Eifel region between Hürth-Kalscheuren near Köln and Trier-Ehrang was launched with a ceremony in Kyllburg on October 28. The €500m project is being funded by the federal government and the Länder of Rheinland-Pfalz and Nordrhein-Westfalen. The ...
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NewsSpain to support Indian railway development
INDIA: Spain’s Ministry of Transport & Sustainable Mobility has signed a memorandum of understanding to support Indian Railways in developing and upgrading its network.
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News‘Railway Erasmus’ scheme proposed to tackle the sector’s skills shortage
EUROPE: The final report of the Skill Training Alliance For the Future European Rail System project has been issued.
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NewsSteelmaker is latest company to express interest in acquiring Talgo
SPAIN: Basque steelmaking company Sidenor has expressed interest in the total or partial acquisition of rolling stock manufacturer Talgo After evaluating the proposal received on October 16, the Talgo board decided to enter into negotiations when it met on October 18. The proposal would ensure that ...
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Metro Report InternationalZagreb tramway extension project launched
CROATIA: Mayor Tomislav Tomašević ceremonially launched work on Zagreb’s first tramway extension for 24 years on October 25, when a construction contract was awarded to Strabag. The Sarajevska extension will run from Zapruđe to Ranžirni Kolodvor. The ceremony marked the start of work on 1·8 km ...
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NewsStadler to upgrade Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn signalling
SWITZERLAND: Stadler Signalling and Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn signed a partnership agreement on October 16 covering modernisation of the railway’s signalling using Stadler’s Eurolocking signal and train control. The SFr34m contract runs for 10 years and includes all project work, from planning and installation to testing ...
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NewsNorway plans interim operating contracts to revise passenger rail procurement
NORWAY: The Ministry of Transport has asked railway agency Jernbanedirektoratet to directly award state operator Vy an interim contract to run Lot 1 Sør passenger services for up to five years from the expiry of the current contract with Go-Ahead Group in December 2027. This interim ...
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NewsBest offer for Operail privatisation selected
ESTONIA: Final negotiations for the privatisation of national rail freight operator Operail are now underway with Tallinn-based Tiigi Keskus, which submitted the highest bid. Several potential buyers from Estonia and abroad had qualified for the second step of the privatisation process, which began in June when ...
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NewsCrossing asset management research project launched
EUROPE: The XCross research project has been launched with the aim of enhancing the inspection and maintenance of turnout crossing surface profiles. The project will use handheld 3D laser scanning and computer vision to create a digital twin. Advanced optimisation strategies will then be used to determine ...