News – Page 261
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NewsShort line natural disaster recovery funding bill introduced
USA: A bill has been introduced to Congress which would authorise the Department of Transportation to provide emergency funding to assist short line railways with recovery from natural disasters.
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Rail Business UKRail leaders frustrated as DfT tightens grip and cuts loom
UK: Rail Business UK has taken soundings from across the train operating companies, Network Rail and from sources close to the Department for Transport, finding a bleak outlook. Industry leaders fear having to implement stark cuts to rail provision, even if the industrial relations issues plaguing the sector can be resolved.
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NewsFour-car Desiro ML EMUs enter service in Vorarlberg
AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways’ first four-car Siemens Mobility Desiro ML electric multiple-units entered service in Vorarlberg with the December 11 timetable change. ÖBB has operate three-car Desiro ML units since 2015. In August 2021 it awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply 21 four-car units to ...
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Metro Report InternationalKeolis awarded Dijon multimodal transport contract
FRANCE: Dijon municipality has awarded incumbent Keolis a new contract to operate transport services under the DiviaMobilités brand.
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Metro Report InternationalTramwaje Śląskie network extended
POLAND: An extension of the Tramwaje Śląskie network from Zagórze Petla to Zagórze Rondo Jana Pawła II in Sosnowiec was opened for revenue service on December 15.
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NewsRegioPanter EMUs enter service on electrified regional line
CZECH REPUBLIC: Electric services have begun running on the Olomouc – Uničov – Šumperk line, which is to become SŽ’s first regional route to be controlled exclusively using ETCS.
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NewsVIA Rail establishes High Frequency Rail project office
CANADA: National passenger train operator VIA Rail has established VIA HFR – VIA TGF Inc to act as a dedicated project office for development and delivery of the High Frequency Rail project. This envisages the provision of dedicated tracks for 200 km/h electric passenger trains on ...
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NewsNext phase of Kosovo rail modernisation gets underway
KOSOVO: Work has begun to modernise the 34 km Mitrovicë – Fushë Kosovë line as the second stage of a €208m three-phase programme to enhance the corridor linking North Macedonia with Serbia. The route is part of the Western Balkans core rail network and an extension ...
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NewsRailpool breaks ground for Hamburg locomotive workshop
GERMANY: Leasing company Railpool has broken ground to launch construction of an eco-friendly locomotive workshop at its Hamburg Billbrook site. ‘By investing in a future-proof workshop infrastructure, we are making an important contribution to the rail industry by providing the maintenance capacity required for the growing ...
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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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Metro Report InternationalOttawa light rail inquiry makes 103 recommendations
CANADA: There were persistent failures in leadership and communication during development of Ottawa’s light rail project, with the city and PPP concessionaire Rideau Transit Group losing sight of the public interest, according to a public inquiry report which makes 103 recommendations to fix problems and ensure they ...
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NewsSpanish high speed network extended to Murcia
SPAIN: Passenger services on the final 15·9 km of high speed line between Orihuela and Murcia began on December 20, following an official inauguration by King Felipe VI the previous day.
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Metro Report InternationalParklife consortium picked to operate Sydney airport metro
AUSTRALIA: Project promoter Sydney Metro has let the third and final major works package for the Western Sydney Airport metro programme, covering Stations, Systems, Trains, Operations & Maintenance.
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NewsFirenze high speed station and tunnel contract awarded
ITALY: Infrastructure manager RFI has awarded a contract valued at more than €1bn to a consortium of Impresa Pizzarotti & C and Saipem for work on the Milano – Roma high speed line through the northern part of Firenze.
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NewsBotswana – Zimbabwe through working agreement signed
AFRICA: A through working agreement has been signed enabling National Railways of Zimbabwe locomotives to operate to Francistown in Botswana, and Botswana Railways locos to run through to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. NRZ said eliminating the need to change locomotives at the border would cut delays and ...
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Rail Business UKHydrogen has a modest role to play in decarbonising rail, committee says
UK: Hydrogen has a modest but potentially critical role to play in rail decarbonisation, and the government should set out the lessons learned from hydrogen trains abroad, according to a report from the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee.
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Metro Report InternationalTram operators explore joint procurement to cut costs
UK: Light rail industry association UKTram has established a working group to explore options to lower costs through joint procurements. ‘From soaring energy prices to the increasing price of parts for vehicles and infrastructure, operators are reporting significant strains on their budgets, with no sign that ...
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NewsWestbahn looks to Budapest as Innsbruck service launched
EUROPE: Open-access operator Westbahn commenced Wien – Innsbruck services with effect from the December 11 timetable change, with its first service leaving Wien Westbahnhof at 07.08.
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NewsFreight future in doubt as energy costs soar
FRANCE: Rail freight operators are facing a catastrophic future if the government does not offer help with a massive rise in energy costs, according to industry body Fret Ferroviaire Français du Futur.
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NewsMile – Mengzi high speed line opens
CHINA: A high speed line between Mile and Mengzi in Yunnan province opened on December 16, with 250 km/h services providing a 69 min journey time between Kunming Nan station and Honghe station in Mengzi. The 106 km line starts at a junction with the ...