Passenger rail industry news
Latest news from the passenger railway industry, including intercity, regional and commuter transport.
Railcoop reaches initial funding target
FRANCE: Not-for-profit co-operative Railcoop confirmed on March 4 that it had achieved its target of raising initial capital of €1∙5m to fund the establishment of an open access freight and passenger operator.
Settle & Carlisle ‘Staycation Express’ to run again in 2021
UK: Rail Charter Services has confirmed that it intends to repeat the regular excursion trains it operated last summer over the Settle & Carlisle route through North Yorkshire and Cumbria.
ODEG retains Baltic coast operating contract
GERMANY: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern transport authority VMV has awarded incumbent Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn the next contract to operate Ostseeküste II passenger services along the Baltic Sea coast.
Discontinuous electrification proposed on Brandenburg regional route
GERMANY: Hybrid battery-electric trains could be running on the Berlin – Neuruppin – Wittenberge route by 2028, according to a study undertaken for the District of Ostprignitz-Ruppin by the Innoverse transport consultancy.
ČD signs framework contract for 160 Pesa regional DMUs
CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator České Dráhy and Polish manufacturer Pesa Bydgoszcz have signed a KC14·5bn framework agreement for the supply of up to 160 regional diesel multiple-units, with a firm order worth almost KC3bn for an initial 33 units.
Hydrogen train trial to inform electrification thinking
GERMANY: Baden-Württemberg local operator Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs is to test an Alstom iLint hydrogen multiple-unit in regular service.
Germany needs faster electrification, says Allianz pro Schiene
Grand Est concession attracts ‘good response’
New fleet to make Nightjet ‘the best option for travelling between major European cities’
Basel – Binz night train planned
Siemens Mobility to develop Dutch MaaS platform
Avanti West Coast introduces ITSO-compliant smartcard
Swedish ticket offices to close
Saudi Arabia approves merger of railway companies
Introduction of Dutch services postponed
French night train network renaissance
Automation of rural branch line trains to be studied
Steepest rack railway launches modernisation programme
Serbia calls tenders for 200 km/h EMUs
Passenger Experience and Economics, Policy & Operations rail research centres planned
Hamilton – Auckland connector is ready to roll
Grand Union’s London – Cardiff open access plan rejected
Westbahn cutbacks in prospect as public service contract ends
Wales & Borders rail franchise taken into public ownership
