Stadler Flirt3 XLs ordered for Frankfurt – Koblenz service
GERMANY: VIAS Rail is to lease eight Stadler Flirt3 XL electric multiple-units from Alpha Trains for use on a Frankfurt – Koblenz service along the right bank of the Rhein which is to be introduced in December 2025. There is an option for one more EMU.
Rail Baltica regional station design contract signed
ESTONIA: National Rail Baltica project implementation body Rail Baltic Estonia has awarded Ardanuy Ingeneria a €368 000 contract to design seven stations for use by regional passenger services on the future 1 435 mm gauge line.
Government ‘committed to delivering HS2 to Manchester’
UK: The government is committed to building High Speed 2 through to London Euston rather than terminating it short at Old Oak Common, according to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. ‘I don’t see any conceivable circumstance in which that would not end up at Euston’, he told the BBC.
National Express selected for 10-year operating contracts
GERMANY: National Express Rail has been selected to operate passenger services RE1 Aachen – Hamm and RE11 Düsseldorf – Paderborn – Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe for 10 years from the December 2023 timetable change.
Global Centre for Rail Excellence promoters confident as investment search ramps up
Rail Business UK visits the future site of the Global Centre for Rail Excellence in South Wales, as promoter GCRE Ltd steps up its search to find an outside investor able to attract £330m in funding to fulfil its vision. Nick Kingsley reports.
Railway supply industry news round-up
This week’s news from the global railway supply chain.
Operail sells more wagons from its lease fleet
ESTONIA: National freight operator Operail has sold a further 807 wagons from its lease fleet for €22·1m as part of a programme of divestment of non-core assets.
