Passenger rail industry news
Latest news from the passenger railway industry, including intercity, regional and commuter transport.
Strikes, weather and ageing infrastructure hold back DB’s first half performance
GERMANY: Hopes that the flow of investment in the Deutsche Bahn network would lead to a rapid improvement in operational and financial performance were dashed on July 25 when DB published its half-year results.
New York East River Tunnel rehabilitation contract awarded
USA: Amtrak has appointed a joint venture of Skanska and E-J Electric Installation Co to undertake the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project to modernise the four bores connecting New York Penn Station with Queens.
Electro-diesel trains ordered for Zagreb – Split route
CROATIA: National passenger operator HŽPP has awarded Končar KEV a contract to supply six electro-diesel multiple-units for the 429 km Zagreb – Split route, which is electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz as far as Oštarije.
Government introduces bill to take passenger train operations into the public sector
UK: The legislation envisages that the direct award of a contract to a public sector operator would become the default, rather than a last resort.
Train operator says WhatsApp service has saved 1 277 h of employee time
UK: Train operator Northern says its entirely AI-operated Whatsapp enquiry service has received 8 000 messages from customers in the first year of operation, which has freed-up 1 277 h of employee time.
Guardian of the Nile luxury cruise train planned
EGYPT: Italian high-end hospitality company Arsenale and Egyptian National Railways have signed heads of terms for the launch of a Guardian of the Nile luxury cruise train in 2027.
Porto – Lisboa high speed project and Rail Baltica lead latest Connecting Europe Facility grant allocations
Nationalisation, Great British Railways and devolution plans included in King’s Speech
Bayern to award electric-hydrogen-battery tilting train operating contract
Study looks at how to increase international capacity at London St Pancras
VIA Rail fleet renewal funding confirmed
US federal funding available for inter-city rail services
SJ to replace Vy Tåg as night train operator
Investors take stake in Flix
Rail and tram-train in Manchester’s Bee Network expansion plans
Joint border crossing to accelerate Serbia – Montenegro train services
Liège – Maastricht – Aachen regional services finally launched
Romania: New rolling stock to support rail market reforms
Go-Ahead Deutschland renamed Arverio as ÖBB targets growth in southern Germany
Scottish transport ticketing goes digital
VR beats Vy to win next Norrtåg operating contract
More coaches to boost capacity on Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway
Sprinter corridor double-tracking project gets grant
Great British Rail Replacement aims to bring a fresh approach during train service disruption