High speed rail industry news
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In depthJapan: Delays and demographic dilemmas hinder Hokkaido Shinkansen ambition
Geological difficulties have delayed the completion of the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension to Sapporo beyond 2030, while JR Hokkaido is considering the deployment of 160 to 200 km/h EMUs on its 1 067 mm network, as well as bus replacements for loss-making rural routes. Mike Bent investigates.
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NewsGovernment says Korail and Supreme Railways are to merge next year
SOUTH KOREA: The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport has confirmed its intent to merge national operator Korail with rival Supreme Railways, but trade unions representing SR staff have criticised what they see as stifling of competition and innovation.
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NewsSiemens Mobility signs Vietnamese high speed rail co-operation agreement
VIETNAM: Siemens Mobility has signed a framework agreement with a local partner to develop two planned high speed rail lines as turnkey projects.
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NewsFirst section of Canadian high speed rail route selected
CANADA: The first phase of the Alto high speed rail project will be built between Ottawa and Montréal, transport minister Steven MacKinnon has announced.
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NewsHyundai Rotem high speed trainset on its way to Uzbekistan
UZBEKISTAN: The first of six high speed trainsets that Hyundai Rotem is building for Uzbek national railway UTY has been shipped from the South Korean port of Masan.
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NewsEurope’s ‘number one rail country’ celebrates Koralmbahn opening
AUSTRIA: The 130 km Koralmbahn railway formally opened for traffic on December 12, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to forge a direct rail link between Wien and the southwest of the country. Toma Bačić reports from the celebrations.
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In depthComment: Demography is destiny
The demographic challenges facing many countries around the world mean that rail’s ability to cost-effectively deliver benefits in low-density regions such as rural Japan or much of France is in the spotlight, our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley warns.
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NewsSupreme Railways unveils EMU-320 high speed train
SOUTH KOREA: Supreme Railways has unveiled the first of 14 eight-car EMU-320 high speed trainsets being supplied by Hyundai Rotem.
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In depthEurope: Franco-Italian Mont Cenis base tunnel project forges ahead
A key element in the east-west Mediterranean Corridor, the Mont Cenis base tunnel will be a cornerstone of the TEN-T network, as well as offering an improved link between the French and Italian capitals. Reinhard Christeller reports from the construction site.
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NewsEurostar and DB develop plans to launch direct London to Germany trains
EUROPE: Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn are working together to develop plans to launch direct high speed train services between London and major German cities such as Köln and Frankfurt in the early 2030s.
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NewsLyon – Bordeaux link leads SNCF’s Ouigo expansion drive
FRANCE: National operator SNCF has unveiled a further expansion of its Ouigo low-cost passenger operation, including a service linking Lyon with Bordeaux.
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NewsBritish Steel wins Turkish and Australian export orders
INTERNATIONAL: British Steel has won orders to export rail from its Scunthorpe steelworks to Turkey and steel sleepers to Australia.
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NewsCalifornia formally launches procurement of high speed trackwork and railway systems
USA: The California High Speed Rail Authority has formally launched procurement of track and railway systems as part of its ambition to begin tracklaying next year.
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NewsFreight sector calls for the same political attention as high speed rail
EUROPE: The European Rail Freight Association has called for greater political awareness of the sector, arguing that recent proposals to accelerate the development of a pan-European high speed rail network ‘barely mentioned’ freight.
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NewsEIB approves loan for Madrid – Irún high speed project
SPAIN: The European Investment Bank has approved €1·7bn in co-financing to complete the final 93 km segment of the high speed line between Madrid and the French border at Irún/Hendaye.
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NewsFirst section of Indian high speed railway to open in 2027
INDIA: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced the planned opening date for the first section of the Mumbai – Ahmedabad high speed line.
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News‘Drones-in-a-box’ to inspect Spanish railways
SPAIN: Aviation safety body AESA has granted Ineco authorisation to use autonomous drones to inspect railway infrastructure.
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News350 km/h operation envisaged in Madrid – Barcelona high speed line enhancement study
SPAIN: Studies are to assess the viability of upgrading the Madrid – Barcelona high speed line to raise the maximum speed to 350 km/h and other works which would provide a journey time of under 2 h.
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NewsExtremadura high speed line contracts awarded
SPAIN: High speed line infrastructure manager ADIF Alta Velocidad has awarded three contracts for the 69 km Plasencia –Talayuela section of the Madrid – Extremadura high speed line project.
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NewsEuropean Commission sets out ambitions to develop an EU high speed rail network
EUROPE: The European Commission has unveiled a plan to accelerate the development of high speed rail, saying the creation of a well-functioning and faster network by 2040 would support the goals of becoming carbon-neutral and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.