Passenger rail news – Page 102
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Rail Business UKUK government planning increase in rail services from May 18
UK: Despite an explicit denial of any proposals to increase passenger rail services when First Secretary of State Dominic Raab was questioned at the government’s daily coronavirus press briefing on April 22, industry sources confirm that train operating companies have been asked to prepare to reinstate a ...
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NewsRail investment is vital to post-Covid-19 recovery, say associations
EUROPE: Investment to ‘make rail the core element of the European transport system’ should be an intrinsic part of the EU’s plans for stimulating economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to rail sector associations CER and UNIFE.
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NewsRENFE introduces personalised tickets
SPAIN: National operator RENFE has introduced personalised tickets for passengers travelling on AVE, Larga Distancia, Avant and Alvia services and all other trains where seats reservations are obligatory. Purchasers are required to provide mobile phone numbers and other contact information, with their privacy protected under national and ...
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NewsWestbahn and ÖBB awarded public service contracts to secure operations during the pandemic
AUSTRIA: Both Austrian Federal Railways and open access competitor Westbahn have been awarded emergency public service obligation contracts to ensure the continued operation of Wien – Salzburg trains during the coronavirus pandemic, in a move which the ALLRAIL association of new market entrants said should provide a ...
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NewsSentiment analysis to help train operators understand passenger feedback
FEEDBACK: On-train infotainment provider GoMedia is to use sentiment analysis software from Wordnerds to help train operators make sense of passengers’ comments in social media posts, online reviews, surveys and forums. ‘We are developing a range of digital solutions to give operators timely data, so that they ...
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Metro Report InternationalMaking transport more sustainable after the coronavirus
EUROPE: Emphasising that ‘the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic cannot simply be a return to business as usual’, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has published guidance for policy makers aiming to reduce car use in urban areas. Developed under the Transport Health & Environment Pan-European ...
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NewsFlixTrain halts plans to launch open access service in France
FRANCE: FlixMobility GmbH has decided to postpone indefinitely its plans to launch open access passenger train services on five inter-city routes in France. The company had announced in June last year that FlixTrain-branded services would run on four French domestic routes, as well as between Paris and ...
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NewsRomania seeks inter-regional EMUs
Local builder Softronic demonstrated its Hyperion EMU prototype on a daily Craiova – București – Constanța service in the summer of 2014. (Photo: Mihai Tudosă). ROMANIA: Railway reform authority Autoritatea pentru Reformă Feroviară has invited bids for the supply of 20 low-floor EMUs for use on long-distance ...
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Metro Report InternationalPublic transport continuity needed to ensure ‘the health crisis does not turn into a social one’
INTERNATIONAL: Ensuring the continuity of public transport services during the coronavirus pandemic is essential to ensure that ‘the health crisis does not turn into a social one’, according to the International Association of Public Transport, United Cities & Local Governments, the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the ...
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NewsAmtrak awarded $1bn from coronavirus relief package
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration is making available more than $1bn to support Amtrak operations during the coronavirus pandemic, under the terms of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act approved by the US Congress on March 27.
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NewsBerlin – Malmö night train to continue despite closure of ferry route
EUROPE: The Berlin Night Express overnight train between Sweden and Germany will continue to run despite shipping company Stena Line’s plans to close the Trelleborg – Sassnitz ferry route which the train uses to cross the Baltic, operator Snälltåget has told Railway Gazette International. ...
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NewsALLRAIL calls for action to save new passenger train operators
EUROPE: The coronavirus pandemic is ‘annihilating’ the business cases of many independent passenger operators, and without urgent action the first bankruptcies could be seen this month, the ALLRAIL association of new entrants to the rail market has warned. On April 9 ALLRAIL said the ‘understandable’ decision to ...
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NewsFirst electric train reaches Tel Aviv Savidor
ISRAEL: Israel Railways operated its first electric test train to Tel Aviv’s Hashalom and Savidor stations on April 5, following energisation of the 25 kV 50 Hz overhead line equipment on the core cross-city Ayalon Corridor.
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NewsEU funding to support Madrid – Lisboa link
EUROPE: More EU funding has been allocated to enhancing rail links between Portugal and Spain. The EU co-financing is part of a €1·4bn package of European Green Deal projects in seven EU states that was announced by the Commissioner for Cohesion & Reforms Elisa Ferreira in mid-March. ...
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NewsDB Regio selected for retendered Rhein-Ruhr operating contract
GERMANY: Rhein-Ruhr transport authority VRR and its Westfalen Lippe counterpart NWL have selected DB Regio as preferred bidder for a retendered contract to operate S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr services S1 Dortmund – Solingen and S4 Lütgendortmund – Unna. The contract covering 4·9 million train-km/ year is due to run ...
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NewsUBS predicts post-pandemic shift from air to high speed rail
INTERNATIONAL: A report published by UBS Research suggests that many travellers will switch from air to high speed rail in the post Covid-19 period.
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NewsTokyu Corp completes platform edge door programme
JAPAN:·Tokyu Corp has completed a five-year programme to install platform edge doors and barriers with sensors at all 64 stations on its Toyoko, Denentoshi and Oimachi suburban lines. The only Tokyu Corp stations which have not been equipped are those on the 5 km 10-station Setagaya Line ...
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Metro Report InternationalChengdu airport express metro trains delivered
CHINA: CRRC Sifang has completed a fleet of 26 trains for Chengdu’s 66·2 km metro Line 18, with commissioning and trial running underway ahead of the planned start of services this summer. Each eight-car set is 187 m long, with 3 m ...
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Rail Business UKGrand Central follows Hull Trains in suspending open access services
UK: Open access operator Grand Central temporarily suspended all services from the end of April 3, as coronavirus restrictions continue to affect its passenger numbers. The London King’s Cross to Sunderland and Bradford operator said it anticipated that the ‘necessary but temporary’ measure would last for an ...
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Rail Business UKUse data to tailor coronavirus timetables to current needs, says Zipabout
UK: Passenger data systems supplier Zipabout says train operators should revise their emergency timetables based on passenger behaviour and real-time demand data, to ensure their reduced services can meet the needs of key workers during the coronavirus pandemic. ‘The necessary reduction in rail ...