French railway news – Page 23
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Metro Report InternationalCondition-based tramway maintenance contracts signed
FRANCE: Vossloh has signed multi-year framework agreements with initial three-year terms for the maintenance of tramway infrastructure in Le Havre and Valenciennes. Vossloh will provide the operators with a fixed-price condition guarantee for plain line track and turnouts, though a package including track analysis, continuous monitoring and ...
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NewsTemporary rules to keep the Channel Tunnel open
EUROPE: The European Parliament has approved temporary measures designed to ensure that rail operations through the Channel Tunnel can continue once the Brexit transition period ends on January 1 2021. The European Parliament approved the temporary rules under an urgent procedure on December 17 with 684 votes ...
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NewsMission to rethink freight transport
FRANCE: The Senate’s Committee for Regional Planning & Sustainable Development has launched a fact-finding mission to examine the future of freight transport in the face of environmental concerns. The mission’s work is expected to take around six months, with hearings being held across France. The team of ...
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NewsAutomated locomotive completes first trip
FRANCE: ‘A semi-autonomous train’ has run ‘under real operating conditions’ on the 16 km Longwy – Longuyon line in eastern France, national operator SNCF announced on December 16.
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NewsBombardier Transportation steps up output at Crespin
FRANCE: Production of rolling stock at Bombardier Transportation’s Crespin factory in northern France is to be stepped up thanks to a €25m investment programme. Dubbed Plan 1000, the package announced by the company on December 4 will give the plant the ability to turn out 1 000 ...
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Metro Report InternationalWabtec’s Metroflexx braking certified ahead of use on Grand Paris Express trains
BRAKING: Tüv Süd has provided safety, quality and performance standard certification for Metroflexx, Wabtec’s ‘next-generation’ braking system for metro trains. Designed to significantly reduce the weight, energy consumption and life-cycle cost of a train, Metroflexx communicates with the train computer and traction equipment to optimise use of ...
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Metro Report InternationalParis extends Line 14 north to St-Ouen
FRANCE: Transport Authority Île de France Mobilités and operator RATP officially inaugurated the northern extension of driverless metro Line 14 on December 14.
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NewsFour operators to co-operate to expand night train services
EUROPE: The national rail operators of Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland have agreed to co-operate on the expansion of international night train services, suggesting that there is now a political willingness to provide the framework required for long term success. ‘Europe’s leading railways are pooling their forces ...
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Metro Report InternationalReducing brake dust to improve air quality
FRANCE: Paris transport operator RATP is testing Wabtec’s Green Friction braking materials, which are designed to help improve the air quality in tunnels by reducing the amount of microparticles emitted. Initial bench tests are simulating the operation of a MI09 transet operating on RER Line A, looking ...
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NewsDiesel-battery hybrid TER train to be tested next year
FRANCE: Testing of a Coradia Polyvalent electro-diesel regional trainset fitted with a battery hybrid traction system is to begin early next year and passenger services are planned for 2022, Alstom has announced. Two of the trainset’s four diesel engines are to be replaced by lithium-ion batteries, which ...
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NewsMinister promises help to double freight market share
FRANCE: Rail freight will receive the support it needs to become ‘more competitive, more productive and more reliable’, Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari promised delegates at a virtual seminar of regional rail freight operators.
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NewsChemical company deploys railway operations management platform
FRANCE: Chemical company Arkema has selected Everysens to digitalise the management of its European railway operations which include a fleet of 500 wagons. The Everysens modular software-as-a-service platform integrates real-time sensor data from leasing companies Ermewa, VTG, Atir-Rail, Millet and Wascosa to provide arrival time updates ...
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Metro Report InternationalMore Île-de-France tram-trains ordered by SNCF
FRANCE: Alstom has been awarded a €70m firm order to supply Transilien SNCF with a further 13 Citadis Dualis tram-trains, funded by Île-de-France Mobilités.
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Metro Report InternationalLille funds tram renewal as expansion plans progress
FRANCE: The Lille municipal government has approved a provisional budget of €150m for replacement of the city’s tram fleet, as part of a programme to expand the capacity of the network. Rolling stock renewal is a core element in the €2bn operating contract awarded to Keolis ...
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NewsArgos ready to deliver digital interlockings
FRANCE: Following an 18-month research programme, SNCF Réseau has selected three consortia to develop, commission and maintain pre-production digital interlockings.
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NewsOuigo adds digital infotainment portal
FRANCE: Passengers travelling on Ouigo low-cost high speed services between Paris and Lyon are now able to access a wide range of information and entertainment options thanks to a partnership between the operator and digital services company Moment.
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NewsSAFRA awarded first contract to refurbish TER trainsets
FRANCE: SNCF has awarded SAFRA a contract to refurbish 12 three-car multiple-units used in the Midi-Pyrénées area and seven four-car sets used in Languedoc-Roussillon. There is an option for a further 10 trains. SAFRA said the 26-month contract announced on October 15 marks its entry into a ...
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Metro Report InternationalFirst MP14 train enters service on the Paris metro
FRANCE: The first MP14 rubber-tyred automated metro trainset entered service on Paris Line 14 on October 12. One MP14 trainset will be in service until the opening of the extension from Saint-Lazare to Mairie de Saint-Ouen in December 2020, with 20 to enter service during 2021. ...
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Metro Report InternationalNantes orders its next generation of trams
FRANCE: Nantes Métropole has awarded Alstom a contract to supply 49 Citadis trams worth almost €200m. These are intended to replace the 46 Alstom TFS1 vehicles dating from the opening of France’s first modern tramway in 1985, as well as to increase capacity. The three-route network ...
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NewsThello to withdraw Milano – Marseille inter-city trains
EUROPE: Thello’s open access EuroCity service between Milano, Nice and Marseille is to be withdrawn next year, according to local reports. Launched in 2014, the locomotive-hauled service consisted of up to three return workings a day. First and second class seating was available, and a small bar ...