News – Page 156
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Rail Business UKTransport Committee invites feedback on draft rail reform bill
Source: Mary R Smith/Pixabay UK: The House of Commons Transport Select Committee has launched its pre-legislative scrutiny of the government’s draft Rail Reform Bill, inviting experts to share their views. The Committee will examine the draft bill’s proposals and make recommendations to the government on how ...
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NewsEuropean day and overnight train expansion outlined in green travel collaboration
EUROPE: Open access night train co-operative European Sleeper and tour operator Flywise’s rail brand GreenCityTrip are to collaborate to offer travel from the Netherlands and Belgium to Berlin, Dresden and Praha. European Sleeper’s Brussels – Amsterdam – Berlin overnight service is to be extended to Dresden ...
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Metro Report InternationalUrban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
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NewsKiwiRail orders hybrid shunting locomotives
NEW ZEALAND: National operator KiwiRail has awarded Stadler a contract to supply battery-diesel hybrid shunting locomotives as well as additional main line diesel locos. The 24 Bo-Bo hybrid yard shunting locomotives will operate primarily on battery power, reducing the carbon footprint of shunting. They will have ...
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NewsHudson Bay Railway funding announced
CANADA: The federal and provincial governments have announced up to C$60m of funding for capital works on the Hudson Bay Railway, which provides year-round all-weather access to the port of Churchill and remote communities in northern Manitoba. The 1 000 km railway from The Pas to ...
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NewsEstonian rail freight operator prepares for privatisation
ESTONIA: A strategy to privatise national rail freight operator Operail was backed by the cabinet on February 15. The government had instructed Operail to prepare plans for a sale last autumn. ‘Rail transport is a volume business where small quantities and short journeys do not pay ...
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Metro Report InternationalIzmir metro extension opens
TURKEY: Passenger-carrying pre-operation started on the 6·5 km western extension of Izmir metro Line 1 from Fahrettin Altay to Sehitlik on February 24 with a ceremony attended by Izmir Mayor Tunç Soyer. Passengers can travel free of charge until April 15. A ...
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In depthChina: Water Rabbit delivers network growth
More than 3 500 km of new railway was opened in China during 2023, expanding the national network to almost 160 000 route-km. Toma Bačić reviews recent developments.
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Metro Report InternationalDelhi’s Golden Line trains under construction
INDIA: Alstom’s Sri City factory has begun production of Metropolis trainsets for Delhi Metro Rail Corp’s Phase IV expansion programme. The €312m contract awarded in November 2022 covers 52 six-car trainsets. These are needed for extensions of lines 7 (Pink) and 8 (Magenta), and the future ...
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NewsSNCB unveils independently accessible coach
BELGIUM: National operator SNCB has unveiled the first of 130 double-deck coaches to facilitate wheelchair users travelling without assistance.
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In depthHigh Speed: FRA grant kick-starts Brightline West
Construction of a high speed inter-city passenger railway in the congested corridor between Las Vegas and Southern California is expected to get underway this year, following the approval of federal funding for the Brightline West project. Dave Lustig investigates.
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Metro Report InternationalHydrogen tram development project underway
GERMANY: The Hydrogen Tram for Next Generation project has been launched to develop a fuel cell-powered vehicle which would enable services to be extended into new areas and tram-train routes created without the need for electrification. The HyTraGen research project is led by Hörmann Vehicle Engineering. ...
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Metro Report InternationalManchester Metrolink upgrade funding approved
UK: Transport for Greater Manchester has announced that £21·4m from the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement will be spent on the Metrolink light rail network over the next 12 months. The spending approved on February 22 is part of a planned £147m package to maintain, ...
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NewsLithuanian rail operator pilots ‘competitive green logistics’ in the three Baltic States
EUROPE: Lithuania’s LTG Cargo has operated a pilot freight train through Latvia to Valga, the first station in Estonia. On February 23 CEO Eglė Šimė said LTG Cargo plans to start offering ‘competitive green logistics services’ in the three countries in the near future, as a ...
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NewsPop EMU delivered to Ferrovie del Gargano
ITALY: Foggia local train operator Ferrovie del Gargano has taken delivery of the first of four three-car Pop electric multiple-units. The 3 kV DC Alstom Coradia Stream ETR103 EMUs are to be used on Foggia – San Severo – Rodi – Peschici Calenella and Foggia – ...
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NewsMRS Logística orders Wabtec locomotives
BRAZIL: MRS Logística has ordered 30 Wabtec ES44ACi Evolution Series diesel locomotives as part of its fleet renewal strategy. The deal announced on February 21 is valued at around R$500m, with the first deliveries scheduled for this year. Features will include lower emissions than the predecessor ...
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Metro Report InternationalFunding agreed for Curitiba light rail studies
BRAZIL: Federal development bank BNDES has agreed to fund studies for a 22·8 km light rail line linking Centro Cívico in Curitiba with Afonso Pena International Airport in neighbouring São José dos Pinhais. A contract for BNDES to provide R$12·5m to fund the technical-operational, economic, legal, ...
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NewsChicago’s Metra thinks outside the box with Stadler battery train order
USA: Chicago commuter agency Metra has awarded Stadler a contract to supply eight battery multiple-units. The $154m deal announced on February 21 includes staff training and spare parts. The first of the units are expected to be delivered from Stadler’s Salt Lake City plant in 2027-28. ...
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