Europe rail industry news
Latest railway industry news from Europe, including operations, infrastructure, rolling stock and policy.
Metre-gauge EMU order increased
EUROPE: Italian operator SSIF has placed a firm order for an additional four-car Stadler electric multiple-unit for use on the 1 000 mm gauge Domodossola – Locarno line which it operates in partnership with its Swiss counterpart FART. This takes SSIF’s total order to four units.
Moldova joins the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail
MOLDOVA: Moldova has become the 52nd Member of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail. Based in Switzerland, OTIF is the intergovernmental organisation which develops a unified legal framework for railways which is applied by countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Zagreb tram order signed
CROATA: A firm order for Končar KEV to supply a further 20 low-floor trams to Zagreb operator ZET was signed by Mayor Tomislav Tomaševićs on September 3.
Interview: Record funding is flowing – but Germany’s railway must deliver
The building blocks to turn round performance on Germany’s national network are being put in place thanks to an unprecedented investment programme, but Deutsche Bahn and infrastructure arm DB InfraGO must deliver on their promises, warns Federal Minister for Digital & Transport Dr Volker Wissing. Murray Hughes put the questions.
Driverless tram begins passenger-carrying test runs
RUSSIA: A tram converted for driverless operation has begun passenger-carrying test running on Route 10 in Moskva.
Comment: Contrasting approaches to fixing things
The transport ministers of Britain and Germany are taking contrasting approaches to addressing the problems facing their railways. Dr Volker Wissing believes management reorganisation cannot solve DB’s problems, but his counterpart Louise Haigh is taking the opposite view with Labour’s rail reforms. Nick Kingsley suggests they could learn much from each other.
Gotthard Base Tunnel fully reopens after derailment damage is repaired
Spanish high speed lines to be linked by chord
Rhein-Ruhr fares reform to cut through the ‘tariff jungle’
Karlsruhe tram-trains get smarter operations control
Bulgarian EMU order signed as previous procurements hit problems
CRRC ZELC plans European production hub with Hungarian partner
White Gyrfalcon high speed trains ordered for Moskva – St Petersburg line
Budget squeeze curtails Liège tram plans
First Vectrons for France in 70-loco framework contract
Homburg – Zweibrücken railway reopening agreement signed
Captrain Polska buys its own Traxx locos
Higher capacity tram arrives in Göteborg
Ganz-Mavag Europe withdraws Talgo bid
Koleje Dolnośląskie orders more Elfs
Tampere tramway extension plans could be scaled back
Channel Tunnel shuttle Entry/Exit System preparations completed
Spain blocks Hungarian consortium’s bid to acquire Talgo
Bremen tram depot rebuilding completed