Asia rail industry news
Latest railway industry news from across Asia, including operations, infrastructure, rolling stock and policy.
Test running starts on privately financed high speed line
CHINA: The 267 km Hangzhou – Taizhou high speed line in Zhejiang province is on course to open by the end of this year, following the start of trial running on November 26.
Tadami Line transfer brings vertical separation to Japanese passenger market
JAPAN: Part of the storm-damaged Tadami Line in central Honshu has been transferred from JR East ownership to management by the local prefecture, the Tohoku Transport Office within the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism announced on November 30.
Freight-only launch for Laos – China rail link
LAOS: The 418 km railway linking Vientiane and the Chinese border at Boten was formally opened for revenue services with a ceremony on December 3, marking the 46th anniversary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
TCDD opens Kars logistics hub
TURKEY: Infrastructure manager TCDD has formally opened its Kars logistics centre, created to serve the Baku – Tbilisi - Kars railway linking Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, which opened in October 2017.
JR West to renew Okayama EMU fleet
JAPAN: On November 18 JR West announced plans to order a batch of two- and three-car EMUs for use on local services in the Okayama and Bingo areas.
Harbin’s circular metro line extended
CHINA: Extensions have opened at each end of Harbin’s orbital metro Line 3.
Alstom awarded Turkish signalling contract
Istanbul Line M5 CBTC contract awarded
Smart maintenance: Locomotives find a new lease of life
Dhaka metro Line 1 ODA loan signed
EBRD loan boosts Istanbul – Kapıkule route modernisation
Pakistan finalises Chinese coach contract
JR East demonstrates automatic operation of high speed train
Downtown Line to switch to risk-sharing contract
Sri Lanka Railways rolls out Hytera radio network
Kaohsiung Red Line extension E&M contract awarded
Tobu Railway orders N100 units
Dhaka metro staff trained in Delhi
JR East uses AI to monitor overhead electrification
Testing begins on Istanbul airport metro line
First metro line opened in Hanoi
Wuhu driverless monorail line opens
Metro turnback time cut during testing
High speed train maintenance contract awarded