Latest news – Page 618
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NewsLéman Express cross-border EMU unveiled
EUROPE: The first completed Alstom electric multiple-unit for the Léman Express cross-border regional passenger service between Genève in Switzerland and destinations in France was unveiled at the manufacturer's Reichshoffen factory on April 10. SNCF has ordered 17 EMUs from Alstom’s Coradia Polyvalent family, known as Régiolis by the operator. The ...
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NewsDual-fuel locomotive on test
LATVIA: The prototype conversion of a ČME3 diesel shunting locomotive to dual-fuel gas operation has attracted international interest, with representatives of French gas supplier GRDF and the city of Lille recently visiting Riga to see the loco in action. National railway LDz and Riga-based DiGAS launched the pilot project two ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
c2c has begun introducing the PICO4UK ticket issuing system, which by the end of the year will replace seven separate legacy retailing systems to integrate its ticket machines, ticket offices, website and app. PICO4UK has been developed for the UK market to replicate a system which parent company Trenitalia has ...
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NewsMetrans orders Vectron locomotives
EUROPE: Hamburger Hafen & Logistik subsidiary Metrans has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply 10 Vectron MS locomotives for use on cross-border freight service in central and eastern Europe. The order announced on April 10 includes the 900th Vectron to be sold. Deliveries from Siemens Mobility’s ...
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Rail Business UKSouth Eastern franchise award delayed
UK: The start of the next South Eastern passenger franchise has been delayed ‘while we make a decision on the competition’, Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling confirmed to parliament on April 9. The Department for Transport is negotiating a short-term extension to its current agreement with Govia. This ...
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Rail Business UKStagecoach disqualified from three franchises in pension dispute
UK: Stagecoach Group has been disqualified from the Department for Transport’s three current passenger franchise competitions, the company announced on April 10. Incumbent Stagecoach had been shortlisted for the East Midlands franchise, which the DfT announced on April 10 had been won by Abellio, and for the West Coast Partnership ...
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Rail Business UKBimode and hydrogen trains as Abellio wins next East Midlands franchise
UK: The Department for Transport named Abellio as the winner of the next East Midlands passenger franchise on April 10. Formal award is subject to a regulatory standstill period. The contract is due to begin on August 18 2019 and run until at least August 21 2027, with DfT having ...
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NewsReal-time insight into port’s rail traffic
NETHERLANDS: Port of Rotterdam Authority has launched the OnTrack application, which provides real-time insight into rail flows within the port and its terminals. The aim is to inform operators’ planning processes and help shippers anticipate any deviations from the schedules. At present, most terminals use their own planning system ...
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NewsGhana eastern line concession agreed
GHANA: A US$2·2bn build-operate-transfer concession agreement for the 340 km Accra – Achimota – Koforidua – Bososo – Boankra – Kumasi railway project was signed by the Ministry of Railway Development and Ghana European Railway Consortium on April 4. The agreement must now be approved by the cabinet and parliament. ...
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Metro Report InternationalNaming ceremony for Grand Paris Express TBM
FRANCE: The first tunnel boring machine to excavate metro Line 14 South of the Grand Paris Express network was named at a ceremony at Thiais on April 3. Next month, TBM Claire will start boring the initial 4·5 km section of tunnel between the future Pont de Rungis station ...
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NewsSri Lanka opens first phase of China-financed Southern Railway line
SRI LANKA: The 26·8 km Matara – Beliatta first phase of the Southern Railway project was officially opened by Minister of Transport & Civil Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga on April 8. The US$278m cost of Phase 1 was financed through a 20-year loan agreed by Export-Import Bank of China and the ...
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Metro Report InternationalMessina tramway saved from closure
ITALY: The Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport has allocated €100m for an extension and upgrade of the Messina tram line. The funding would be put towards construction of a northern extension of the route from Annunziata to serve the university. Other planned improvements to be funded by the government ...
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Metro Report InternationalMelbourne grade separation contract awarded
AUSTRALIA: The Southern Program Alliance consortium of Acciona Geotech subsidiary Coleman Rail, Lendlease and WSP has been awarded a A$536m contract for grade separation works in southeast Melbourne. The contract announced on April 1 is an extension of a A$588m contract to remove level crossings which had been won ...
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NewsPrivately backed light rail scheme progresses in Khon Kaen
THAILAND: The Prime Minister’s Office has granted approval for a proposed light rail route to be developed in Khon Kaen. Construction is expected to begin in the final quarter of 2019. The 22·6 km route would run on the median strip of the north-south main road that bisects the ...
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NewsOrlando bonds approved as Brightline becomes Virgin Trains USA
USA: Virgin Trains USA was granted approval by the Florida Development Finance Corp on April 5 to raise a further $950m in Private Activity Bond sales to fund the second phase of the inter-city passenger project formerly branded as Brightline. The announcement followed an initial sale of $1·75bn in tax-exempt ...
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NewsNew Generation Rollingstock accessibility modification contract awarded
AUSTRALIA: The government of Queensland has awarded Bombardier Transportation a A$361m contract to undertake modifications to improve the accessibility of the 75 electric multiple-units which are being introduced to the southeast Queensland rail network under the New Generation Rollingstock programme. The modified trains are expected to re-enter service from 2020 ...
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NewsTransmashholding sales up
RUSSIA: Rolling stock manufacturer Transmashholding has announced a 44% year-on-year increase in sales to 224·8bn roubles for 2018. Sales of single-deck coaches were up 62% to 696, while sales of double-deck coaches were up 59% to 65. The company launched a major project to update its range of coaches, and ...
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NewsDB tests talking robot head
GERMANY: A robot head which smiles at passengers and greets them with ‘My name is FRAnny. How can I help you?’ is being tested by Deutsche Bahn’s information technology arm DB Systel and airport operator Fraport. The initial trial is at Frankfurt airport, with trials at Berlin Hbf planned for ...
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Metro Report InternationalCubic awarded Irish mobile ticketing contract
IRELAND: The National Transport Authority has awarded Cubic Transportation Systems a contract worth more than US$4m to supply and maintain a mobile ticketing system. This will included a mobile app enabling users to purchase and present tickets for multiple operators. It is to be piloted on a number of Bus ...
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NewsThailand – Cambodia railway to open this month
ASIA: The 1·3 km cross-border rail link between Arayaprathet in Thailand and Poipot in Cambodia which was completed last year is to be opened on April 22, Thailand’s Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told the ASEAN PPP Summit in Bangkok on April 4. Speaking to Railway Gazette International on the sidelines ...