Europe – Page 4
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NewsIarnród Éireann seeks to develop start-up mindset
IRELAND: National railway Iarnród Éireann and Dogpatch Labs have launched Future Track which aims to bring a ‘start-up mindset’ to innovation in the rail sector. Iarnród Éireann staff will be mentored by entrepreneurs and engage in an annual three month programme which aims to make ideas ...
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Metro Report InternationalOrléans open payment system goes live
FRANCE: Orléans Métropole has launched an open payment ticketing system on its tram and bus services, deployed by its long-standing ticketing technology partner Kuba in partnership with La Banque Postale. Passengers can pay by physical or virtual bank card, smartphone or connected watch, with payment services ...
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NewsSBB tests automated shunting without possessions
SWITZERLAND: SBB and Alstom have carried out a series of trials using a remotely controlled shunting locomotive on tracks that remained open for normal operations. As part of the research trials, 24 locomotive drivers operated a shunter in the marshalling yard at Zürich-Mülligen from a control ...
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NewsRecord spend at DB as freight volume plummets
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn carried more than 1∙8 billion passengers in the year to December 31 2023, up by nearly 6% on the previous year. Publishing its annual results on March 21, the national railway group reported that its long-distance services had been used by more than ...
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NewsPassenger services to be restored on Porto orbital line
PORTUGAL: Agreement has been reached to restore passenger services on an orbital line in the northern suburbs of Porto. The first trains are expected to begin running this year, following a 13-year hiatus. A protocol to restore passenger services was signed at São Mamede de Infesta ...
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Metro Report InternationalFunding agreed for Milano metro extension and interurban tram refurbishment
ITALY: The national government has allocated €145m to help fund a 3·3 km western extension of Milano metro Line M1 from Bisceglie to Valsesia, Olmi and Baggio at an estimated cost of €543m. It has also allocated €88m towards the anticipated refurbishment ...
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NewsSwedish national ticketing product distribution system goes live
SWEDEN: The Samtrafiken collaboration of transport operators has a launched a neutral ticketing communications platform based on the Open Sales & Distribution Model-Online standard with the aim of streamlining ticket sales and enhancing cross-selling opportunities.
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NewsSwiss parliament agrees more long-term rail projects
SWITZERLAND: Parliament has approved a number of key changes to the national railway long-term investment programmes known as Ausbauschritte 2025 and 2035. The changes add around SFr3bn to the cost, taking the total to SFr23bn.
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NewsBerner Oberland-Bahnen increases EMU order
SWITZERLAND: Berner Oberland-Bahnen has awarded Stadler a SFr38.6m contract to supply a further four ABeh4/8 three-car electric multiple-units. The order confirmed in early March follows on from a May 2022 contract for six units. Each EMU will have 140 seats, with areas for ...
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NewsSpanish dual gauging project makes progress
SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF Alta Velocidad has enlarged the 558 m Gaintxurizketa tunnel between Errenteria and Irun as part of a project to provide a dual gauge link between the French border and the start of the future ‘Basque Y’ 1 435 mm gauge high speed ...
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NewsAccess to EU funding unlocks major investment in Polish rolling stock
Koleje Dolnośląskie has received 333·7m złoty in co-financing from the European Union’s Recovery & Resilience Fund which it is using to refinance its Pesa Elf2 EMUs now being delivered. POLAND: The national government’s Centre for EU Transport Projects agency has allocated co-financing from the European Union’s ...
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Metro Report InternationalMoskva Mayor plans driverless trams
RUSSIA: Moskva Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has announced ambitions to deploy smart technologies by 2030 to make the public transport network more reliable and the preferred option for mobility within the city. This could included driverless trams in 2024-26, driverless metro trains by around 2030, a smart ...
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Metro Report InternationalParcels by tram project ends
GERMANY: The transport of parcels on trams in Schwerin is not viable, operator NVS and DHL Group have concluded following a pilot project. The pilot scheme was launched in October 2022, with a tram carrying roll containers running once a day from a DHL distribution centre. ...
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NewsIberian T4000 pocket wagons arrive
SPAIN: Leasing company VTG is taking delivery of 200 T4000 pocket wagons for combined transport services on Spain and Portugal’s 1 668 mm gauge. The wagons are being built by Tatravagónka to a design derived from the T3000 pocket wagons in use on 1 435 mm ...
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Metro Report InternationalDogs and bikes added to ticketing app
TICKETING: Fairtiq has added the ability to buy tickets for dogs and bicycles to its swipe-in, swipe out rail and bus ticketing app covering Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Travellers can check in up to five dogs, five bikes or a combination of both, in addition to the ...
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NewsBasque region to take over RENFE suburban routes
SPAIN: On March 11 the Spanish government announced that management of all suburban services in the Basque region would be transferred from national operator RENFE to the Euzkadi autonomous community. The national government will set up a €400m fund to launch the project, some of which ...
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NewsSNCF Réseau awards major track renewal contracts
FRANCE: Infrastructure manager SNCF Réseau has awarded four major track renewal contracts designed to provide suppliers with increased visibility of future work. Eiffage Rail and Captrain will renew 49 turnouts on the Atlantique, Nord-Europe and Sud-Est high speed lines in a contract which runs for four ...
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NewsRegioJet to launch night train to Ukraine
EUROPE: RegioJet has opened ticket sales for a night train service between Praha and the rail hub at Chop in western Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Oblast. The operator says this will be the first 100% commercially operated service between the European Union and Ukraine. The daily service is ...
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NewsLightweight loco customised to DB Cargo’s carbon-reduction needs
GERMANY: DB Cargo and Siemens Mobility have unveiled the Vectron Dual Mode Light, an electro-diesel locomotive optimised for flexible deployment on partly-electrified routes and to reduce the need for shunting. It is several tonnes lighter than a conventional Vectron Dual Mode loco. The changes are intended ...
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NewsJoint venture to manage upgraded Baku – Tbilisi – Kars railway
ASIA: An equally-owned binational joint venture is to be set up to manage the Azeri and Georgian sections of the Baku – Tbilisi – Kars railway once current upgrading works are completed. Azerbaijan’s and Georgia’s state railways currently hold sole responsibility for the sections of line ...