Main line rail industry news – Page 13
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NewsDutch-German cross-border rail connection approved
EUROPE: The German Land of Niedersachsen has approved the start of preliminary works paving the way for the reintroduction of a passenger service on the freight-only line from Neuenhaus to Coevorden in the Netherlands. The Land has applied for federal funding to cover 90% of the ...
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NewsLuzon inter-regional railway study underway
PHILIPPINES: The Department of Transport and the national PPP Center have commissioned Systra and PwC Philippines/Isla Lipana & Co to undertake studies for the North Long Haul Inter-Regional Railway Project.
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NewsRENFE28 management strategy approved
SPAIN: Innovation, digitalisation, boosting public services, leadership in the high speed market, profitability of the freight sector and the improvement of production processes are key objectives outlined in the RENFE28 management strategy which was approved by the national operator’s board on January 12. The four-year plan ...
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NewsWork begins on third Kazakhstan – China railway
KAZAKHSTAN: Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov has formally launched the construction of a third cross-border railway link to China. The 272 km double-track line from Ayagoz to Bakhty and a new border crossing near Tacheng in northern Xinjiang is scheduled to open in 2027. It would connect ...
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NewsGround-penetrating radar helps pre-empt track problems
AUSTRALIA: Queensland Rail and Zetica have begun analysing ground-penetrating radar data to map the condition of unseen parts of the state’s 4 600 km railway network. The GPR equipment was mounted on a Queensland Rail vehicle during a measuring campaign which ran February to April 2023. ...
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NewsSeven consortia submit Kuala Lumpur – Singapore High Speed Rail proposals
MALAYSIA: Seven consortia comprising 31 companies submitted concept proposals for the revived Kuala Lumpur – Singapore High Speed Rail project by the January 15 deadline. The request for information issued by the Ministry of Finance-owned project promoter MyHSR Corp in July 2023 invited local and international ...
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NewsGreenbrier regroups operations by geography
GREENBRIER: Wagon manufacturer The Greenbrier Companies has unveiled a new operations structure intended to support its Better Together strategy announced in April 2023. The company said the ‘streamlined’ organisation was designed to drive organisational effectiveness, improve efficiency, leverage best practice and improve customer experience to drive ...
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NewsSlow tourism train operator launches first service
ITALY: FS Group’s recently formed tourist train business FS Treni Turistici Italiani has launched its first service. Branded Espresso Cadore, the overnight service between Roma Termini and Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina will run every Friday night until mid-February. On arrival, a connecting bus takes passengers to Cortina ...
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NewsEIB backs Madrid station enhancements
SPAIN: The European Investment Bank has approved a €550m loan to infrastructure manager ADIF to finance works to increase capacity at Madrid’s Atocha station. The loan approved in December forms part of a €740m framework package agreed in 2021 for works at the capital’s Atocha and ...
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NewsGas-fuelled freight locomotive under development
USA: Plans have been unveiled for the development and testing of a prototype main line freight locomotive with a powered tender, which will be fuelled by renewable natural gas. RNG is a purified biogas that can be used interchangeably with conventional natural gas. ...
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NewsNetwork Rail Consulting awarded California high speed rail contract
USA: The consultancy arm of British infrastructure manager Network Rail has been awarded a $73·2m contract to provide rail systems engineering services to the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Network Rail Consulting will be supported by subconsultants Egis and Ricardo, as well as local companies C2PM DR ...
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NewsJR Central develops automated Shinkansen overhead line checks
JAPAN: Central Japan Railway has developed an automated overhead line inspection system that can be fitted to series-built trains used on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Able to check the position of wires and the condition of fittings while trains are travelling at up to 300 km/h, the ...
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NewsDeutsche Bahn’s financial recovery remains elusive
GERMANY: Rail services in Germany were badly disrupted by industrial action over pay by the train drivers’ trade union GD during the week commencing January 8. On January 10 Deutsche Bahn said that about 20% of long-distance passenger services were running, with the number of regional ...
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NewsInfracapital enters German rolling stock market with Rock Rail
GERMANY: M&G plc’s infrastructure investment arm Infracapital has entered the German rolling stock market through a joint venture with Rock Rail. The first deal covers the financing of 18 four-car Siemens Mobility Mireo EMUs ordered for use by DB Regio on Mitteldeutschen S-Bahn 2025plus services from ...
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NewsElectric locomotive on test in Tanzania
TANZANIA: Tanzania Railways Corp is testing the first of 17 E6800 electric locomotives that Hyundai Rotem is supplying for the standard gauge railway project. In July 2021 TRC awarded the South Korean manufacturer a 335·4bn won contract to supply 17 four-axle 25 kV 50 Hz electric ...
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NewsIsrael plans more railway network expansion
ISRAEL: The government has backed plans for expansion of the rail network and works to increase capacity and speeds on existing lines. On December 24 the government approved the quadrupling of the coastal line between Tel Aviv and Haifa, with two fast tracks suitable for 250 ...
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NewsNorfolk Southern aims for low-carbon future
USA: Norfolk Southern has released its inaugural Climate Transition Plan, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity by 42% by 2034. Plans include the use of innovative technologies and operating practices to improve locomotive fuel consumption, which accounts for over 90% of the company’s scope 1 ...
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NewsStadler DMUs delivered to Azerbaijan
AZERBAIJAN: National railway ADY took delivery of four Stadler Flirt diesel multiple-units during December. They were ordered in November 2019 in a €115m deal that also includes six EMUs which are scheduled for handover in 2024. Stadler transferred production from Belarus to ...