Main line rail industry news – Page 5
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NewsStadler to supply inter-city EMUs to GySEV
HUNGARY: Hungarian-Austrian cross-border operator GySEV has signed a contract for Stadler to supply nine inter-city electric multiple-units with an option for four more. The EMUs are intended for use on the Sopron – Győr – Budapest and Szombathely – Győr routes and would also be certified ...
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NewsIarnród Éireann seeks to develop start-up mindset
IRELAND: National railway Iarnród Éireann and Dogpatch Labs have launched Future Track which aims to bring a ‘start-up mindset’ to innovation in the rail sector. Iarnród Éireann staff will be mentored by entrepreneurs and engage in an annual three month programme which aims to make ideas ...
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NewsSBB tests automated shunting without possessions
SWITZERLAND: SBB and Alstom have carried out a series of trials using a remotely controlled shunting locomotive on tracks that remained open for normal operations. As part of the research trials, 24 locomotive drivers operated a shunter in the marshalling yard at Zürich-Mülligen from a control ...
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NewsFitch says rolling stock lessors are resilient to economic challenges
EUROPE: Rolling stock lessors in Europe are benefiting from continued rail traffic recovery and have resilience to higher interest rates, adequate leverage and long-term funding profiles, according to a report from Fitch Ratings. Fitch says European policies favouring environmentally friendly transport will support both the passenger ...
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NewsRecord spend at DB as freight volume plummets
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn carried more than 1∙8 billion passengers in the year to December 31 2023, up by nearly 6% on the previous year. Publishing its annual results on March 21, the national railway group reported that its long-distance services had been used by more than ...
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NewsPassenger services to be restored on Porto orbital line
PORTUGAL: Agreement has been reached to restore passenger services on an orbital line in the northern suburbs of Porto. The first trains are expected to begin running this year, following a 13-year hiatus. A protocol to restore passenger services was signed at São Mamede de Infesta ...
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NewsSwedish national ticketing product distribution system goes live
SWEDEN: The Samtrafiken collaboration of transport operators has a launched a neutral ticketing communications platform based on the Open Sales & Distribution Model-Online standard with the aim of streamlining ticket sales and enhancing cross-selling opportunities.
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NewsSwiss parliament agrees more long-term rail projects
SWITZERLAND: Parliament has approved a number of key changes to the national railway long-term investment programmes known as Ausbauschritte 2025 and 2035. The changes add around SFr3bn to the cost, taking the total to SFr23bn.
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NewsComposite swap-body saves weight
INTERMODAL: Following four years of development, intermodal equipment company Modalis Group and Belgian engineering firm Agesia have unveiled a prototype lightweight steel and composite 45 ft swap-body offering a greater interior volume. The thermoplastic ‘structural sandwich’ panels save almost a tonne by replacing steel crossmembers and ...
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NewsCommunication training to improve suburban train accessibility
AUSTRALIA: Adelaide suburban train operator Keolis Downer Adelaide has been accredited under the Communication Access Symbol initiative to help passengers with communication difficulties. Accreditation involved 234 front line staff completing nine months of specialised training. Tools include communication cards and vision boards showing stations and key ...
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NewsBerner Oberland-Bahnen increases EMU order
SWITZERLAND: Berner Oberland-Bahnen has awarded Stadler a SFr38.6m contract to supply a further four ABeh4/8 three-car electric multiple-units. The order confirmed in early March follows on from a May 2022 contract for six units. Each EMU will have 140 seats, with areas for ...
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NewsSpanish dual gauging project makes progress
SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF Alta Velocidad has enlarged the 558 m Gaintxurizketa tunnel between Errenteria and Irun as part of a project to provide a dual gauge link between the French border and the start of the future ‘Basque Y’ 1 435 mm gauge high speed ...
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NewsAccess to EU funding unlocks major investment in Polish rolling stock
Koleje Dolnośląskie has received 333·7m złoty in co-financing from the European Union’s Recovery & Resilience Fund which it is using to refinance its Pesa Elf2 EMUs now being delivered. POLAND: The national government’s Centre for EU Transport Projects agency has allocated co-financing from the European Union’s ...
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NewsRailway maintenance equipment partnership
INTERNATIONAL: British maintenance equipment supplier Thomson Engineering Design has selected Unipart Rail as its exclusive sales and distribution partner across Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Australia and North America. The companies are working in partnership to introduce a ‘revolutionary’ range of machines to provide the benefits of ...
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NewsMoon railway concepts commissioned
MOON: The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has commissioned Northrop Grumman to develop a concept for a railway to transport humans, supplies and resources on the Moon. The study is to define the interfaces and resources required to build a lunar rail network; draw up ...
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NewsIberian T4000 pocket wagons arrive
SPAIN: Leasing company VTG is taking delivery of 200 T4000 pocket wagons for combined transport services on Spain and Portugal’s 1 668 mm gauge. The wagons are being built by Tatravagónka to a design derived from the T3000 pocket wagons in use on 1 435 mm ...
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NewsBasque region to take over RENFE suburban routes
SPAIN: On March 11 the Spanish government announced that management of all suburban services in the Basque region would be transferred from national operator RENFE to the Euzkadi autonomous community. The national government will set up a €400m fund to launch the project, some of which ...
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NewsSeries E8 enters service on Yamagata mini-Shinkansen
JAPAN: East Japan Railway put its first Series E8 high speed trainsets into revenue service on the Yamagata Shinkansen on March 16.