Passenger rail industry news
Latest news from the passenger railway industry, including intercity, regional and commuter transport.
Battery trains ordered for Hermann-Hesse-Bahn
GERMANY: Baden-Württemberg’s rolling stock owning body SFBW has ordered three Mireo Plus B battery-electric multiple-units from Siemens Mobility for use on Hermann-Hesse-Bahn services from December 2023.
SE Trains takes over Southeastern services
UK: Southeastern services were transferred to the SE Trains subsidiary of the Department for Transport’s Operator of Last Resort when the directly-awarded management contract held by Govia’s London South Eastern Railway expired at 02.00 on October 17.
Denmark: Getting the passengers back
With a substantial investment strategy in place and negotiations for a new operating contract underway, Denmark’s state passenger operator is positioning itself to drive modal shift in a post-Covid recovery, DSB Chief Executive Flemming Jensen tells Chris Jackson.
Refurbished EMU to offer tourist-oriented Osaka – Kyoto service
JAPAN: Kinki Nippon Railway (Kintetsu) has announced plans to refurbish a withdrawn four-car Series 12200 EMU ahead of the launch of a new service to be marketed as the Ayoyoshi Limited Express.
DfT begins market engagement on future Passenger Service Contracts
UK: The Department for Transport has announced the first phase of engagement with industry stakeholders regarding plans for the Passenger Service Contracts which will replace the previous franchising system.
Vision for a seamless European rail passenger ticketing experience
EUROPE: A position paper setting out a long-term ‘political vision’ for the seamless planning and booking of international rail journeys has been published by the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies. However, independent passenger operators are disappointed at the lack of firm commitments.
Virtual reality simulation aims to ‘empower people to use public transport’
Eurostar brand to remain after Thalys merger
Investment needed to roll out Digital Capacity Management
Agilis selected for Oberfranken operating contract
Brightline fleet expansion begins as Orlando extension nears completion
First VIA Rail trainset arrives for testing
Ouigo to launch loco-hauled trains and serve more destinations
Impact of the pandemic on rail remains ‘dire’, says CER
UIC to host Rail Accessibility Day
Railcoop awarded operating licence
Operator of Last Resort to take over Southeastern after ‘£25m breach of franchise agreement’
Istanbul’s historic European terminus to be reopened
DB begins work to electrify to the Austrian border
Direct awards agreed with Greater Anglia and West Midlands Trains
First new Nightjet stock ready for testing
DSB awards EMU depot contract
Transdev picked to run Région Sud TER package
Sotetsu Series 21000 EMU enters service