All open access articles
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In depthRegulation: How an interventionist infrastructure manager spurred high speed rail demand in Spain
Acting as a guiding mind in terms of redesigning and reallocating capacity, ADIF Alta Velocidad helped to stimulate demand for high speed rail travel in Spain, challenging the belief that infrastructure managers should remain passive or only reactive.
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Rail Business UKLumo reveals first glimpse of refurbished Class 222 trains as West Coast base opens
UK: FirstGroup’s open access operator Lumo hopes to order new-build battery-electric trainsets if it secures longer access rights to run its upcoming London to Stirling services.
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NewsGoVolta launches to make international rail travel ‘affordable, comfortable and accessible to everyone’
EUROPE: GoVolta has launched low-cost passenger services from Amsterdam to Berlin and Hamburg as the first steps in its ambitious plan to make international rail travel more accessible as an alternative to short and medium-haul flights and car journeys.
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NewsTrenitalia secures depot site to house French and cross-Channel Frecciarossa fleets
EUROPE: Trenitalia has reached an agreement for a depot in Paris which would be the base for trainsets used on routes in France and for planned services through the Channel Tunnel to London.
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NewsSNCF Réseau reaches network access agreement with high speed new entrant
FRANCE: Prospective high speed operator Le Train has finalised two framework agreements with SNCF Réseau covering access to the high speed network.
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NewsOpen access operators expand in Poland
POLAND: Competition within the domestic inter-city market is hotting up with RegioJet expanding its service proposition and Leo Express carrying passengers within Poland for the first time.
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NewsCompetition rulings open Italian domestic high speed rail market
ITALY: Competition authority AGCM has upheld a complaint against infrastructure manager RFI, finding that its procedures for allocating capacity on high speed lines were hindering new operators’ access to the network.
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NewsWestbahn launches Wien – Villach open access services
AUSTRIA: Open access passenger operator Westbahn expanded its network significantly on March 1 with the launch of services between Wien, Graz, Klagenfurt and Villach via the recently-opened Koralmbahn.
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Rail Business UKOpen access train start-up blames funding challenges on a ‘hostile investment environment’
UK: Open access passenger train start-up Go-op Co-operative says ‘a hostile investment environment’ has so far prevented it from raising the funding it needs to launch, and there is ’now one last chance’ to for investors to step in.
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NewsLeo Express unveils Talgo trainset ahead of service expansion
EUROPE: Leo Express unveiled the design of the three 13-car Talgo VI tilting push-pull trainsets on February 11. It is leasing the Talgo vehicles from RENFE, which is LE’s 50% stakeholder.
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In depthComment: A shot across the bows
The controversy over Austrian open access operator Westbahn’s deployment of Chinese-built EMUs should give the European rail supply industry reason to reflect on its own competitiveness, argues our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsGovernment says Korail and Supreme Railways are to merge next year
SOUTH KOREA: The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport has confirmed its intent to merge national operator Korail with rival Supreme Railways, but trade unions representing SR staff have criticised what they see as stifling of competition and innovation.
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Rail Business UKWrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway tries again
UK: Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway has resubmitted a formal application to launch open access passenger train services between Wales and London Euston.
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NewsLyon – Bordeaux link leads SNCF’s Ouigo expansion drive
FRANCE: National operator SNCF has unveiled a further expansion of its Ouigo low-cost passenger operation, including a service linking Lyon with Bordeaux.
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NewsWestbahn to put Chinese-built double-deck trainsets into service soon
AUSTRIA: Following a long approval process, four double-deck electric multiple units supplied by China’s CRRC are to enter passenger service with Westbahn in the coming weeks.
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NewsGemini Trains still hopes to exploit Channel Tunnel capacity
EUROPE: Gemini Trains still has ambitions to launch train services between the UK and continental Europe, despite the rejection of its application for depot access rights needed to enable it to launch services from London to Paris, Brussels and eventually Köln.
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Rail Business UKVirgin Trains granted depot access paving the way for launch of Channel Tunnel high speed services
UK: The rail regulator has approved Virgin Trains’ application for depot access which it needs under its plans to launch high speed passenger train services from London through the Channel Tunnel to Paris and Brussels from 2030.
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Rail Business UKFirstGroup announces Cardiff – York open access plan and tries again to serve Rochdale
UK: FirstGroup has made initial submissions of three separate applications to the Office of Rail & Road for new and extended open access passenger train services which would be operated under its Lumo brand.
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NewsRegioJet and Leo Express target Warszawa – Kraków route
POLAND: RegioJet is launching daily Warszawa – Kraków services on September 18, with Leo Express planning to extend its Praha – Kraków service to Warszawa next March, following regulatory approval.
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NewsVirgin sets out details of plans to launch Channel Tunnel train services in 2030
EUROPE: Virgin has set out details of its plans to launch high speed train services through the Channel Tunnel, and says it is ready to confirm an order for Alstom trainsets which would enable the start of services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam during 2030.