All News articles – Page 11

  • Rail ridership in France is dominated by commuter routes around Paris, but occupancy rates on regional and conventional inter-city trains remain weak, according to Arafer.
    News

    Rail market share falling in France, says regulator

    2017-11-28T15:54:28Z

    FRANCE: In a report on rail passenger services covering 2015 and 2016, regulatory body Arafer found that rail’s market share had fallen by an average of 0·5% a year since 2011, whereas that of other modes had increased. Published on November 16, the report said that rail had a 9·2% ...

  • PRASA's order for 600 EMUs from the Gibela consortium is on of the largest rolling stock procurement programmes of recent years.
    News

    SNCF to assist PRASA with renewal programme

    2017-11-28T14:58:46Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Under a tripartite agreement signed on November 27, SNCF and French government development agency AFD have agreed to provide technical and financial assistance worth R6·2m to suburban passenger operator Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. Commencing from the start of December, the 12-month partnership will provide technical expertise, ...

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    News

    PPF Group buys Škoda Transportation

    2017-11-27T11:28:41Z

    CZECH REPUBLIC: Investment company PPF Group has acquired rolling stock manufacturer Škoda Transportation under an agreement finalised overnight on November 24-25. Although the purchase price has not been formally announced, it is understood to be in excess of KC10bn. In 2016 Škoda Transportation reported consolidated sales of KC15·7bn, down by ...

  • DB Cargo UK Chief Executive Hans-Georg Werner launched the start of construction of the freight operator's steel logistics hub in Wolverhampton on November 23.
    News

    World rail freight news round-up

    2017-11-27T09:21:27Z

    On November 23 DB Cargo UK marked the start of work to construct a Logistics Centre in Wolverhampton for the steel market. Once completed in mid-2018, the centre will be able to handle and store up to 40 000 tonnes of steel coil which would arrive by rail for onward ...

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    News

    World rail market - November 2017

    2017-11-26T07:00:00Z

    Asia: MyHSR of Malaysia and Land Transport Authority of Singapore have invited companies to ‘share the latest ticketing technology and developments for the purposes of developing a robust ticketing and fare collection approach for the Kuala Lumpur – Singapore High Speed Rail project’. Germany: Go-Ahead is deploying ETC - ...

  • The National Audit Office has raised concerns about the ability of the suburban network around London to handle the increase in services envisaged under the Thameslink Programme.
    News

    Thameslink Programme completion deferred by a year

    2017-11-24T10:52:00Z

    UK: The Department for Transport has agreed to a proposal from Network Rail and train operator Govia Thameslink Railway which would see introduction of the full 24 trains/h timetable on the Thameslink route through central London deferred by a year to December 2019. With a total value of £7bn, of ...

  • Elisabeth Werner of DG Move gave the keynote address at the third European Rail Summit in Brussels on November 7. A video of her address can be streamed below.
    News

    ERS 2017: Looking beyond the Fourth Railway Package

    2017-11-10T10:55:29Z

    EUROPE: ‘Implementation’ was the watchword of speakers and delegates at Railway Gazette Group’s third European Rail Summit, which was hosted by the Representation of the Free State of Bayern to the EU in Brussels on November 7. Entitled ‘Beyond the Fourth Railway Package’, the Summit addressed the policy challenges facing ...

  • News

    Kosovo learns from EBRD-backed rail safety programme

    2017-10-23T08:00:00Z

    KOSOVO: Delegates from Kosovo’s rail regulator, infrastructure manager Infrakos and operator Trainkos visited the UK in October as part of scheme to develop professional and organisational capabilities which is being run by the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development. The ...

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    News

    World rail market - October 2017

    2017-10-21T06:00:00Z

    Germany: Transdev has been awarded a contract to manage ticket sales, including support for vending machines and supplying staff handsets, for Erfurter Bahn and Süd-Thüringen-Bahn for 11 years from December. Bielefeld tram operator moBiel has started installing 100 Scheidt & Bachmann ticket vending machines which offer audio support for ...

  • The Spinetta inquiry will investigate multiple issues across the French rail sector, including low ridership on regional passenger trains and the precipitous decline in rail freight seen in recent years.
    News

    Former Air France CEO Spinetta to assess future of French rail sector

    2017-10-18T16:40:57Z

    FRANCE: Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has appointed the former head of Air France-KLM Jean-Cyril Spinetta to draw up a fresh strategy for the rail sector. Announced by Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne on October 16, the Spinetta study is intended to inform transport legislation due to be published in the first ...

  • Rail Minister Paul Maynard joined invited guests to open the NCHSR campus in Birmingham on October 16.
    News

    UK training hubs open

    2017-10-18T08:57:55Z

    UK: Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening officially opened the Doncaster campus of the National College for High Speed Rail on October 9, with its partner facility in Birmingham opening on October 16. The largest of five new national colleges being created by the government ‘to ensure British workers ...

  • Austrian Federal Railways has expanded its network of overnight trains this year by taking on a number of routes previously operated by Deutsche Bahn.
    News

    ÖBB coach tender back on track

    2017-10-16T15:27:17Z

    AUSTRIA: Tendering for a fleet of coaches for daytime and overnight inter-city services for national operator ÖBB is to resume following withdrawal of an objection by Siemens. The company had complained in August about changes to the specification for a framework contract that included an initial tranche of 200 km/h ...

  • SBB Cargo used a specially branded locomotive to mark the resumption of freight traffic through Rastatt on October 2.
    News

    DB Netz reopens main line through Rastatt

    2017-10-02T13:42:43Z

    GERMANY: Following a hiatus of around seven weeks, trains began running through the town of Rastatt on the Rhein Valley main line between Karlsruhe and Basel at 01.00 on October 2.The busy freight and passenger artery had been blocked since August 12, when a tunnel beneath the alignment collapsed. The ...

  • GO Transit commuter trains are at present formed diesel locomotives and push-pull trailer cars.
    News

    Hydrogen-powered double-deck train design concepts wanted

    2017-09-18T13:20:12Z

    CANADA: Greater Toronto transport agency Metrolinx has issued a request for proposals seeking design concepts showing how hydrogen fuel cells could be integrated into double-deck electric multiple-units.Metrolinx plans to commission a number of rolling stock manufacturers to prepare designs and demonstrate the impact that incorporating hydrogen fuel cells into ...

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    News

    World rail market - September 2017

    2017-09-16T06:00:00Z

    Estonia: This month passenger operator Elron will begin its transition to a ticketing system developed by Ridango which includes terminals for stations and vending machines for use on trains, and also supports online distribution. Contactless bank card payment will be accepted from the first half of 2018. India: ...

  • An impression of the proposed interior of a refurbished Coach class Amfleet I saloon. Image: Amtrak.
    News

    Amtrak begins Amfleet I refurbishment programme

    2017-09-12T13:20:43Z

    USA: Amtrak has announced the start of work to refurbish its Amfleet I hauled coaches, which are widely used on its Northeast Corridor and Midwest inter-city services. The $16m refurbishment and overhaul programme covers more than 450 vehicles, with completion planned for mid-2018. A phased approach is ...

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    News

    Railway supply industry news round-up

    2017-09-08T10:09:59Z

    Systra announced on August 31 that it had completed the acquisition of International Bridge Technologies. This will enable the consultancy to establish ‘a global bridge centre of excellence’ that will offer specialist design expertise. This is Systra’s first acquisition in a specific engineering discipline, marking a significant strategic move, the ...

  • China has been steadily expanding the reach of its high speed passenger and mixed-traffic network across the north of the country, where operating conditions can be challenging in winter.
    News

    Tracklaying complete on Harbin – Jiamusi fast line

    2017-09-08T08:32:55Z

    CHINA: Contractors have completed tracklaying on the 343 km Harbin – Jiamusi high speed line in Helliongjang province. Designed for trains to run at 200 km/h, the railway is expected to open for commercial traffic in June 2018. With 14 stations including Yilan, Demoli, Fangzheng and Binxian, the line will ...

  • The new postal van design was exhibited at the Expo 1520 trade show at the Shcherbinka test centre near Moscow at the end of August. Photo: Toma Bacic
    News

    TMH to supply parcel vans to Russian Post

    2017-09-07T12:56:15Z

    RUSSIA: On September 4 Transmashholding subsidiary Tver Carriage Works, VTB Leasing and Russian Post signed a tripartite agreement for the supply of 45 postal vans for use on domestic and international services. According to the agreement, Tver Carriage Works will deliver the vehicles to VTB Leasing by the end of ...

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    News

    CRRC presents Melbourne EMU mock-up

    2017-09-07T11:21:41Z

    AUSTRALIA: Evolution Rail has presented to Victoria Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allen a 39 m long mock-up of the electrical multiple-unit cars that it is supplying to operate Melbourne’s suburban network. Last year the Evolution Rail consortium of Plenary, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles and Downer Group was awarded ...