Europe – Page 78
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NewsItalian luxury and tourist train business launched
ITALY: National operator FS Group has established FS Treni Turistici Italiani to provide luxury and tourist-focused train services. These will position rail travel ’as an integral part of the holiday, a quality component of the overall tourist experience’. FS Treni Turistici Italiani has three service areas: ...
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Metro Report InternationalParis metro Line 8 train refurbishment gets underway
FRANCE: Refurbishment of the 44 Alsthom MF77 trainsets used on Paris metro Line 8 has begun at the ACC M plant in Clermont-Ferrand. The work will be similar to that undertaken by the company on the Line 7 fleet. It will take 29 days to refurbish ...
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NewsBeacon Rail buys Mitsui Rail Capital Europe
EUROPE: Beacon Rail has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of locomotive leasing business Mitsui Rail Capital Europe from Mitsui & Co. Beacon Rail said the transaction agreed on August 7 is expected to complete before the end of March 2024, subject ...
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Metro Report InternationalAlcalá de Guadaíra tramway tenders called
SPAIN: The junta of Andalucía has called tenders for the supply of power supply equipment, signalling and other systems to equip the tramway under construction in Alcalá de Guadaíra to the east of Sevilla. Construction of the 12·5 km line from Montecarmelo to an interchange with ...
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News‘Most innovative S-Bahn trains in Germany’ designed to replace 1 500 cars
GERMANY: Siemens Mobility has been awarded a contract to supply 90 extra-long electric multiple-units which it says will provide ‘more space, greater comfort and many innovations’ on München S-Bahn services. The 13-car EMUs will be 202 m long with 376 fixed and 80 folding seats and ...
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In depthComment: Green credentials on the line
The European Commission’s Greening Freight proposals reiterate the EU’s commitment to growing rail’s share of the logistics chain, but they also set out the challenge the sector will face amid the complexity and cost of building new infrastructure, and as measures are adopted to aid the decarbonisation of competing modes.
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NewsMÁV-Start suspends passenger services on 10 lines
HUNGARY: National passenger operator MÁV-Start has suspended rail services on 10 regional routes with effect from August 1, replacing the trains by buses ‘until further notice’.
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NewsStandard gauge railway ‘backbone’ proposed for Ukraine and Moldova
EUROPE: The construction of a 1 435 mm gauge railway ‘backbone’ has been proposed as part of a strategy for closer integration of the rail networks in Ukraine and Moldova with those of the European Union.
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NewsAkiem orders more Vectron locomotives
EUROPE: Leasing company Akiem has awarded Siemens Mobility a firm order to supply a further 15 Vectron AC and Vectron MS electric locomotives in 2025-27. The order announced on July 31 has been placed under a framework agreement for locomotives, ancillary equipment and services signed which ...
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NewsRENFE expands its open access operations in France
FRANCE: RENFE Viajeros began running open access international high speed services between Madrid and Marseille on July 28, having introduced a Barcelona – Lyon service on July 13. The two routes had previously been operated by RENFE in co-operation with SNCF since 2013, but these services ...
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NewsAcquisition to make TX Logistik the second largest rail freight operator in Germany
GERMANY: Mercitalia Logistics has announced an acquisition that it says will make its TX Logistik subsidiary the second largest rail freight operator in Germany after DB Cargo. Subject to regulatory approval, the Italian national railway’s freight business is to acquire Hamburg-based Exploris Deutschland Holding and its ...
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NewsDB passenger traffic still booming
GERMANY: In the six months to June 30 2023 Deutsche Bahn carried 990∙2 million passengers, a 7∙9% increase over the first half year in 2022. Passenger-km totalled 41 196 million, up by over 13% from 36 431 million in January to June 2022. At 15∙4%, the ...
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NewsRFI makes progress with procuring €1·7bn infrastructure enhancement package
ITALY: Infrastructure manager Rete Ferroviaria Italiana awarded three civil works contacts on July 18 totalling €836m, having called tenders for a further six work packages at the end of June with a total value of €904m. The procurement covers a raft of infrastructure enhancements all funded ...
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Metro Report InternationalRENFE pilots Green Mobility Hubs
SPAIN: National train operator RENFE has launched a Green Mobility Hub pilot project to encourage rail passengers to opt for environmentally friendly first- and last-mile transport to and from stations. Suburban station car parks will be adapted to provide facilities for bikes, vehicle sharing and for ...
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Metro Report InternationalSytral sets out Lyon metro investment plan
Photos: Jérémie Anne FRANCE: Lyon transport authority Sytral Mobilités has presented a €1·6bn programme covering renewal and enhancement of the city’s four-line metro network from 2023 to 2035. The investment is split into three tranches, funded from Sytral’s own resources. In 2023-26, €222m is to be ...
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NewsSwedish company buys SBB Cargo diesel locomotives
EUROPE: Nordic Re-Finance has bought 44 Am843 diesel locomotives from Switzerland’s SBB Cargo, saying this will enable it to offer ‘future-proof’ locomotives for lease in the Swedish market. The Am843 single-cab four-axle Vossloh G1700-2 diesel locos dating from 2003-09 are used for shunting and light freight ...
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Metro Report InternationalMetro de Sevilla Line 3 tendering underway
SPAIN: Tenders have been called for a contract to build a 1·5 km section of the future Metro de Sevilla Line 3. The €132m 36-month contract covers a section of the line which will run in a 12·5 m deep cut-and-cover tunnel with two stations at ...
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NewsAll-Island Strategic Rail Review makes 30 proposals to develop railways in Ireland
EUROPE: The draft All-Island Strategic Rail Review has been published, making 30 recommendations for development of the railways in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. These include expanding the total network from 2 300 to 2 950 km, along with electrification, higher speeds and more ...
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NewsMedway Belgium orders electric locos
BELGIUM: MSC subsidiary Medway Belgium has ordered 15 Siemens Mobility Vectron MS electric locomotives for use on cross-border freight services from Belgium. The 6·4 MW locos with a maximum speed of 160 km/h will be used on routes to Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Hungary, the ...
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NewsSwiss MoU marks launch of Network Rail international research programme
EUROPE: UK infrastructure manager Network Rail has launched an International Research & Development partnership programme to strengthen ties with other railways by sharing knowledge and best practice. Projects would be jointly funded, with responsibility for resources, testing capabilities and best practices shared through both in-person and ...