Passenger rail news – Page 143
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Rail Business UKCross-border upgrade plan
EUROPE: North-south rail services between Belfast and Dublin could be upgraded over the coming years, under a three-stage development strategy agreed by Irish national operator Iarnród Éireann and its Northern Irish counterpart Translink. Launched in Belfast as part of Northern Ireland’s Bus+Train week initiative, the plan envisages investment in ...
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NewsDanish fleet renewal goes ahead
DENMARK: State passenger operator DSB has been authorised to start the procurement of a new electric train fleet, the Ministry of Transport announced on June 12. The government has reached agreement with a majority of parliamentary parties to press ahead with the fleet renewal strategy unveiled in February. ...
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NewsSNCF reform legislation adopted
FRANCE: The consolidated version of the government’s railway reform legislation was formally adopted by the Sénat in a 245:83 vote on June 14, having been approved by the Assemblée Nationale 452:80 on the previous day. The text had been agreed by a joint committee of MPs and senators on ...
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NewsSiemens reveals Velaro Novo 360 km/h train concept
GERMANY: Siemens unveiled its Velaro Novo concept for the next generation of high speed train on June 13, saying the first sets could be in service in 2023. The 8 MW Velaro Novo is designed for operating speeds of between 250 and 360 km/h, and would set ‘new ...
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NewsFlixTrain brings forward extra services after ‘overwhelming response’
GERMANY: Open access operator FlixTrain has brought forward the introduction of additional services following higher than anticipated passenger demand. It is also introducing seat reservations and launching pop-up shops at main stations. A second daily Stuttgart – Frankfurt – Hannover – Berlin return service will now be introduced on June ...
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NewsSwiss long-distance concession split confirmed
SWITZERLAND: The Federal Office for Transport announced on June 12 its final decision to split the concession to operate long-distance passenger services from the December 2019 timetable change. Most routes and the whole of the inter-city network will be run by incumbent SBB, but BLS will operate Interregio services on ...
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NewsTenders called for Bari – Barletta realignment
ITALY: Bari suburban rail operator Ferrotramviaria has called tenders to build a new underground alignment for the Bari – Barletta railway line in the centre of Andria. The 3 km underground section will include a new stop at Andria Nord. The space freed up by putting the existing surface ...
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Rail Business UKCAF to supply Wales & Borders regional train fleet
UK: Incoming Wales & Borders franchisee KeolisAmey has selected CAF as preferred bidder for a contract to supply regional diesel multiple-units for the franchise’s rural and suburban services. CAF is in final negotiations to supply and maintain 44 two-car and 26 three-car Civity DMUs to be in service by ...
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NewsParis RER NG design unveiled
FRANCE: The final design for the next generation of double-deck EMUs to operate on the Paris RER network was unveiled by Ile-de-France Mobilités on June 8, at an event to mark the start of construction of the pre-series trains. Designated RER Nouvelle Génération, the EMUs are being supplied by a ...
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NewsLast train to Le Tréport
The cessation of passenger trains over the branch from Abbeville to Le Tréport has reignited debate over the future of France’s secondary lines within the ongoing railway reform programme. Jean-Paul Masse reports.
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Rail Business UKEast Midlands franchise tenders invited
UK: The invitation to tender for the next East Midlands passenger franchise was issued by the Department for Transport on June 7, with bids to be submitted by September 5. The franchise covers the operation of Midland Main Line inter-city services linking London St Pancras with Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and ...
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NewsPNR orders DMUs and push-pull sets
PHILIPPINES: A US$47·4m contract for Indonesian rolling stock manufacturer PT INKA to supply four diesel multiple-units and three push-pull trainsets was signed by Philippine National Railways on May 28. Deliveries are scheduled for December 2019 and January 2020. The vehicles will have longitudinal seats and three twin-leaf doors per ...
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Rail Business UKVivarail D-Trains for Wales & Borders
UK: Incoming Wales & Borders franchisee KeolisAmey is to take delivery of five three-car Class 230 D-Train diesel-battery multiple-units from Vivarail, which is to produce them using the bogies and aluminium bodyshells of withdrawn London Underground D78 metro trains. Intended for use on the Wrexham – Bidston, Conwy Valley and ...
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NewsCruise company buys White Pass & Yukon railway
NORTH AMERICA: Cruise holiday company Carnival Corp has agreed to acquire the White Pass & Yukon Route railway, port and retail operations from Canadian golf club company TWC Enterprises Ltd for US$290m. Built during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, closed in 1982 and revived in 1988 as a tourist ...
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NewsSüdostbahn unveils Traverso EMU
SWITZERLAND: The first of 11 electric multiple-units which Stadler is to supply to Südostbahn for Voralpen-Express services was unveiled in Erlen on June 6. Part of the Flirt family, the six eight-car and five four-car 160 km/h units will feature a new motor bogie design and lightweight trailer bogies ...
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Rail Business UKElectrification and train-trams in ambitious Wales franchise
UK: Investment of £1·8bn in three new train fleets, electrification of commuter routes radiating from Cardiff and station modernisation across the 1 623 route-km Wales & Borders network is envisaged under the 15-year Operations & Development Partner contract awarded to KeolisAmey by the Welsh government on June 4. Described by ...
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NewsAssembly of first Siemens Mireo EMU underway
GERMANY: Siemens has begun final assembly of the first of its first Miro electric multiple-units. The Mireo concept for a lighter, quieter and more energy-efficient successor to the Desiro Main Line family of commuter and regional EMUs was announced at InnoTrans 2016. DB Regio became the launch customer when ...
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NewsETCS onboard contracts signed
NORWAY: Infrastructure manager Bane NOR has finalised the contracts for Alstom to supply, install and maintain ETCS onboard equipment for use across the national rail network. Alstom had been selected as preferred bidder in mid-March. The NKr1·8 bn package consists of three contracts with Bane NOR and framework ...
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NewsBimodes in Norway’s next Flirt order
NORWAY: Funding for the purchase of a further 25 Stadler Flirt multiple-units to accommodate growing ridership was confirmed by Minister of Transport & Communications Ketil Solvik-Olsen on May 15, following a revision of the state budget. State-owned rolling stock company Norske Tog is expected to place a firm order for ...
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NewsNational plan backs 320 km/h target
SWEDEN: The government intends to develop future high speed lines for a top speed of 320 km/h, Infrastructure Minister Tomas Eneroth and Environment Minister Isabella Lövin confirmed on June 4. Presenting the government’s national development plan for 2018-29, they confirmed SKr148bn of rail spending, including three sections of new line. ...