Passenger rail news – Page 11
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NewsGold miner buys coaches for staff trains
UZBEKISTAN: Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Co has bought 15 Type 61-933 coaches to transport employees between Zarafshon and the Muruntau gold mine.
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NewsÖBB and Stadler launch Railjet Kisses
AUSTRIA: ÖBB and Stadler have unveiled the first double-deck Kiss trainsets for use on Railjet-branded services radiating from Wien.
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In depthTechnology: System perspective drives efficiency improvements
Measures to reduce the environmental impact and cost of urban, main line and freight railways while improving the efficiency and performance of the rail system were key foci at this year’s Conference on Modern Rolling Stock.
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NewsTrains return to ‘the Queen of the Pyrénées’ with plans for hydrogen traction
FRANCE: The 36 km branch from Montréjeau-Gourdan-Polignan to Bagnères-de-Luchon in the southwest of the country reopened for passenger services on June 22 after an 11 year closure.
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In depthCroatia: Investment brings a better railway
Croatia’s state-owned passenger operator HŽPP has bounced back from the Covid-19 pandemic, with investment in new trains and improved services helping to position it to compete with new entrants after 2028, CEO Željko Ukić explains to Toma Bačić.
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NewsCasablanca suburban rail project and freight improvements secure funding
MOROCCO: The World Bank approved a US$350m financing package on June 9 for the Greater Casablanca Mobility & Logistics Hub, which aims to improve railway infrastructure and increase rail services in the region around the city.
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In depthWorld Speed Survey 2025: China still ahead as Whoosh joins the club
Railway Gazette International’s biennial survey of the world’s fastest scheduled passenger trains finds that no less than seven countries now run trains at more than 300 km/h, but China is still the global frontrunner in the speed stakes. Jeremy Hartill investigates.
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NewsFirst class seating to be reduced to match changed travel demand
NETHERLANDS: National passenger operator NS is to reduce the number of first class seats on Sprinter local services to reflect changes in passenger demand since the pandemic.
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Metro Report InternationalPizza and Pints to boost public transport ridership
USA: New Jersey transport agency NJ Transit is aiming to increase leisure ridership with a map highlighting pizzerias, breweries, distilleries and wineries within walking distance of its bus, rail and light rail services.
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NewsPresident unveils Stadler coach for Kazakhstan
KAZAKHSTAN: The first of the coaches that Stadler is building to modernise national railway KTZ’s fleet was shown to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev when he visited the company’s factory in Astana.
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NewsUruguay to draw up railway master plan
URUGUAY: An agreement to draw-up a master plan to revitalise and modernise the national railway system has been signed.
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In depthChina: High speed family gets ready to move faster
China’s first lines designed for 400 km/h operation are now under construction, and two 450 km/h variants of its domestically developed Fuxing high speed train family started test running earlier this year. Toma Bačić investigates.
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NewsČD to launch 200 km/h Pendolino operation
CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator ČD is undertaking final works to enable the maximum operating speed of its Pendolino sets to be raised from 160 km/h to 200 km/h.
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In depthHigh speed: Alto aims higher
Canada’s Toronto – Québec City passenger rail project is to be taken forward as a dedicated high speed line requiring up to 1 000 km of new alignment. However, many challenges must be overcome to make the plan a reality, as Nick Kingsley explains.
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Rail Business UKOpen access start-up signs track access contract but funding challenges remain
UK: Open access start-up co-operative Go-op has signed a track access contract and is now seeking investors to finance the launch of services between Swindon, Taunton and Weston-Super-Mare in December 2026.
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NewsThornlie – Cockburn Line east-west link opens in Perth
AUSTRALIA: Perth’s Transperth suburban rail network has expanded with the opening of the Thornlie – Cockburn Line, providing an east-west link between the north-south Mandurah and Armadale lines.
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Rail Business UKViewpoint: Buy tilting trains and finish Delta Junction to salvage HS2, says Gibb
UK: Procurement of a fleet of tilting trains and a focus on Birmingham – Manchester services are key to making the most the descoped High Speed 2 scheme, former Virgin Trains executive Chris Gibb tells Rail Business UK.
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NewsBulgaria sets out plans to tender passenger train operating contracts
BULGARIA: The Ministry of Transport & Communications has begun public consultation on its draft framework for the competitive award of contracts for the operation of passenger rail services.
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NewsVIAS Rail leases EMUs for Expressnetz Emscher services
GERMANY: VIAS Rail has signed an agreement to lease 14 Stadler Flirt electric multiple-units for use on Expressnetz Emscher services.
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NewsNox aims to reinvent night trains to offer privacy, efficiency and affordability
EUROPE: Ambitions to launch a European network of overnight trains with private rooms at the price of a flight have been announced by Berlin-based start-up Nox.