Latest news – Page 24
-
NewsFinland’s VR takes over Helsinki – St Petersburg Allegro train fleet
FINLAND: National operator VR has taken over the four Sm6 trainsets which its Karelian Trains joint venture with Russian Railways previously used on Helsinki – St Petersburg services. The seven-car dual-voltage Alstom Pendolino tilting trainsets were used on the international service from 2010 until operations were ...
-
NewsProposed US wagon regulations target countries of concern
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration is seeking comments on a proposal to amend the Freight Car Safety Standards to limit the use of sensitive technology or components that originate from designated countries of concern or are sourced from state-owned enterprises from such a country. The changes ...
-
NewsMore high speed sets in ONCF rolling stock order
MOROCCO: National operator ONCF has called tenders for a fleet of 168 trainsets worth a total of 16bn dirhams. Expressions of interest had been sought in September 2022, generating 10 responses. The contract which is due to be signed by July 31 2024 is in three ...
-
NewsVilnius – Riga passenger train launch date confirmed
EUROPE: Lithuanian passenger operator LTG Link has opened ticket sales for its Vilnius – Riga service, which is set to launch on December 27. The daily service will leave Vilnius at 06.30 and arrive in the Latvian capital at 10.43. The return ...
-
NewsNairobi suburban railway construction launched
KENYA: President William Ruto has officially launched construction of the Riruta – Ngong commuter rail line, which is being built to relieve road congestion and lower transport costs in Nairobi. The metre-gauge line is being built by China Road & Bridge Corp under a contract awarded ...
-
NewsPresident inaugurates first phase of Tren Maya
MEXICO: Revenue services have started running on the 473 km first phase of the ambitious Tren Maya project between Campeche and Cancún, following a formal inauguration by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Unveiling a commemorative plaque at San Francisco station in Campeche ...
-
NewsLatvian operator rebrands as Škoda EMUs enter service
LATVIA: Passenger operator Pasažieru Vilcien, now rebranding as Vivi, has put its first Škoda Class 16EV electric multiple-units into passenger service. ‘We are taking a big step forward in the development of train travel and we continue to work to ensure that more and more passengers ...
-
NewsDeutsche Bahn calls tenders for next generation of ICE high speed trains
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has called tenders for the development and supply of its next generation of InterCity Express high speed trainsets, with entry into service planned for the early 2030s. DB said the fifth generation ICE trainsets would set new standards for energy efficiency, reliability and ...
-
Rail Business UKPlan to welcome open access back to Wrexham
UK: Plans have been drawn up to revive open access services between London, Shrewsbury and Wrexham under the WSMR brand, 13 years after a previous initiative ended. Tony Miles reports.
-
NewsBurundi – Tanzania railway financing approved
AFRICA: The African Development Bank board has approved financing for the second phase of the Tanzania – Burundi – DR Congo standard gauge railway. On December 12 the bank announced that it would provide Burundi with grants worth US$98·62m, and Tanzania with US$597·79m as loans and ...
-
NewsChange in safety rules opens door to more cross-Channel operators
EUROPE: Eurotunnel is working with rolling stock suppliers and safety authorities to simplify the standards that apply to cross-Channel rail traffic as part of its aim to double the number of high speed passenger trains using the Channel Tunnel by the end of 2033.
-
-
NewsTalbot Services awarded Traxx overhaul contract
GERMANY: Leasing company Akiem has awarded Talbot Services a contract to overhaul 23 Bombardier Transportation Traxx Class 186 electric locomotives in 2024, and to provide ongoing maintenance in the following years. The work will be undertaken by Talbot Services teams in Aachen, with Akiem Maintenance & ...
-
NewsRegional Rail buys two short lines
USA: The 70 km Indiana Eastern Railroad and 100 km Ohio South Central Railroad have been acquired by Regional Rail. The two Class III railways join the 3i-backed short line group alongside the Effingham Railroad Co, South Point & Ohio Railroad and Illinois Western Railroad Co ...
-
Rail Business UKPlans for centralised Great British Railways ticket sales scrapped
UK: The government has dropped plans to create a centralised Great British Railways online rail ticket retailer, the Department for Transport has confirmed. The proposals were originally outlined by the in May 2021 as part of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail white paper. However, on December ...
-
NewsCando acquires Transmark terminal
CANADA: Cando Rail & Terminals has acquired Transmark, which operates the Lethbridge Multi-Purpose Terminal train staging and rolling stock storage facility in southwest Alberta, which has wagon repair shops on site. The facility currently has a capacity of 1 700 wagons and will offer services seven ...
-
NewsFunding secured to support locomotive orders
EUROPE: Private equity investor RIVE Private Investment has structured a €300m financing platform for the acquisition of ‘innovative’ locomotives for lease. This will initially support existing orders for: 15 Siemens Mobility Vectron Dual Mode electro-diesel locomotives; 20 Alstom Traxx MS3 locomotives, which RIVA said would ...
-
-
NewsBosnian railway reopened
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: The 24 km branch line from Podlugovi to Vareš, north of Sarajevo, reopened after 31 years on December 14. The reopening was initiated by Adriatic Metals, a UK-based company which holds a silver mining concession in Vareš. Adriatic Metals cleared the route, ...
-
NewsBattery-electric multiple-units included in largest Mireo order
GERMANY: Siemens Mobility has been awarded orders totalling €500m to supply 75 Mireo electric and battery-electric multiple-units for use from December 2026 on Mitteldeutschen S-Bahn 2025plus services centred on Leipzig. Diesels are not permitted in the Leipzig City Tunnel, and the use of BEMUs will enable ...