Dutch railway news
News about railway, metro and tram infrastructure, operations, policy, projects and the supply industry in the Netherlands, from Railway Gazette International.
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NewsPassenger information screen changes improve readability and save energy
NETHERLANDS: Station passenger information screens have been switched from a light to a dark background, after studies found this would make then more readable for more people, as well as being more energy-efficient.
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NewsNS orders 36 Flirt Flex electric multiple-units
NETHERLANDS: National passenger operator NS has awarded Stadler a contract to supply 36 Flirt Flex electric multiple-units to provide capacity to accommodate growing ridership.
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NewsAutomated freight train trial begins on the Betuwe Route
NETHERLANDS: A one-year trial of automatic train operation has started on the Betuwe Route freight corridor.
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NewsBranson promises ‘Virgin magic’ to shake-up cross-Channel train services ‘for good’
EUROPE: Virgin Group has set out more details of its planned Channel Tunnel high speed train services and its funding partners, with founder Sir Richard Branson saying ’it’s time to end this 30-year monopoly and bring some Virgin magic to the cross-Channel route’.
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NewsEurostar orders Celestia double-deck high speed trains
EUROPE: Eurostar has announced a €1·4bn order for 30 Alstom Avelia Horizon double-deck high speed trainsets, with options for 20 more.
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NewsConstruction of Rotterdam rail freight yard begins
NETHERLANDS: The Port of Rotterdam Authority, railway infrastructure manager ProRail and contractor Swietelsky Rail Benelux have begun construction of a yard to facilitate the growth of container traffic from the Maasvlakte area of the port.
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NewsContracts awarded for ERTMS roll-out in the northern Netherlands
NETHERLANDS: ProRail has awarded Strukton a contract to install ERTMS on the Leeuwarden – Harlingen Haven line, as part of the Northern Lines deployment project and as a national testbed for the latest version of ETCS.
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NewsVirgin sets out details of plans to launch Channel Tunnel train services in 2030
EUROPE: Virgin has set out details of its plans to launch high speed train services through the Channel Tunnel, and says it is ready to confirm an order for Alstom trainsets which would enable the start of services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam during 2030.
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NewsNokia and ProRail agree GSM-R cloud investment plan ahead of FRMCS adoption
NETHERLANDS: ProRail has awarded enterprise telecoms specialist Nokia a contract to migrate its existing 2G telecoms assets to a cloud environment as part of preparations for the roll-out of FRMCS in the next decade.
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Metro Report InternationalAmsterdam plans tram fleet replacement and autonomous operation pilot scheme
NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam transport operator GVB has begun the procurement of up to 78 trams to replace vehicles which will reach the end of their service lives within the next few years.
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NewsNetherlands referred to court over direct-award rail contract
NETHERLANDS: The European Commission has decided to refer the Netherlands to the Court of Justice of the European Union over the direct award of a concession for state incumbent NS to operate passenger services in 2025-33.
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NewsLocomotive equipped to test autonomous freight train operation
GERMANY: A DB Cargo electric locomotive has been equipped with automatic and remote train operation technology.
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NewsArriva wins Vechtdal Lines train operating contract
NETHERLANDS: Incumbent operator Arriva has won the next Vechtdal Lines contract to provide regional passenger services in the northeast of the country.
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NewsFirst class seating to be reduced to match changed travel demand
NETHERLANDS: National passenger operator NS is to reduce the number of first class seats on Sprinter local services to reflect changes in passenger demand since the pandemic.
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NewsAutomation improves efficiency at the Netherlands’ largest rail yard
NETHERLANDS: Siemens Mobility has completed a €110m project to increase efficiency and reduce handling times at the largest rail freight yard in the country.
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NewsEurostar plans direct trains from London to Frankfurt and Genève
EUROPE: Eurostar has announced plans to offer direct London – Frankfurt, London – Genève and Amsterdam – Brussels – Genève services once new trains are delivered in the early 2030s.
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NewsRail welding robot makes ’tangible progress’
NETHERLANDS: Robel Rail Automation, infrastructure manager ProRail and contractors VolkerRail and Strukton Rail are to further develop an automated rail welding robot.
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Metro Report InternationalElectric transport operators agree to help balance power grid use
NETHERLANDS: Public transport operators have signed an agreement to help balance demand on the heavily-loaded national power grid.
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NewsUN rail freight convention awaits fifth signatory
INTERNATIONAL: China, Germany, The Netherlands and Togo have now signed the United Nations Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Rail, which aims to eliminate rail’s competitive disadvantage for the transport of freight between Europe and Asia. The Convention was adopted by ...
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NewsNS unveils mock-up of future double-deck trains
NETHERLANDS: National passenger operator NS has unveiled a mock-up of its future Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie electric multiple-units. In December 2022 NS awarded CAF a €600m contract to supply 30 four-car and 30 six-car DDNG trainsets. It was the operator’s second order for ...