Passenger rail news – Page 17
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NewsService increases planned as Pays-de-Loire awards its first tendered operating contract
FRANCE: Incumbent SNCF Voyageurs has been awarded the first passenger train operating contract to be tendered by the Pays-de-la-Loire région. The contract covers the operation of tram-train services on the Nantes – Chateaubriant and Nantes – Clisson lines, as well as the Sud Loire rail network ...
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NewsComments sought on RENFE ticketing commitments
SPAIN: The European Commission has invited comments on commitments offered by national operator RENFE to address concerns over its alleged refusal to supply rival ticketing platforms with train information and real-time data. In April the Commission opened a formal investigation into whether RENFE may have restricted ...
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NewsDouble-deck coaches find new home in Tanzania
TANZANIA: Tanzania Railways Corp is taking delivery of 30 double-deck passenger coaches formerly used by Deutsche Bahn in Germany. The ex-DB ‘Görlitz’ coaches have been purchased through Lückemeier Transport & Logistik, which is refurbishing then for use in Tanzania. They are suitable for 160 km/h operation, ...
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Rail Business UKGWR trials Whoosh real-time journey dashboard
UK: Great Western Railway is undertaking a four-month trial of technology company Whoosh’s journey dashboard, which enables passengers to see real-time information for the train they are on and for any station. The system is being trialled on three trainsets and also at Patchway and Newton ...
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NewsPKP Intercity orders more 200 km/h locomotives
POLAND: National long-distance operator PKP Intercity has exercised an option to purchase five more electric multi-system locomotives from Newag. The option announced on June 21 was included in an October 2021 contract for an initial 10 Griffin E4MSP locomotives capable of 200 km/h operation. Valued at ...
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NewsTirol endorses Zillertalbahn hydrogen project
AUSTRIA: The Tirol provincial government has formerly endorsed proposals to convert the 760 mm gauge Zillertalbahn to hydrogen traction, whilst acknowledging that conventional overhead electrification would have been cheaper. The Land has commissioned further work on development of the concept, including a project structure and implementation ...
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NewsFaster Chicago – St Louis passenger trains introduced as Illinois route modernisation nears completion
USA: Accelerated inter-city passenger services running at up to 177 km/h were launched on the 457 km Chicago – Springfield – St Louis route on June 26.
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NewsCartel office orders DB to end competition restrictions
GERMANY: On June 26 the national competition authority ruled that state-owned operator Deutsche Bahn must alter its commercial practices to comply with competition laws.
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NewsRENFE orders more Media Distancia EMUs
SPAIN: RENFE has ordered a further batch of 200 km/h electric multiple-units from CAF for use on medium distance services. The €190m order for 32 trainsets announced on June 27 has been placed as part of a October 2022 framework agreement which covered an initial 28 ...
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NewsFirst stage of Retiro terminus modernisation completed
ARGENTINA: The first stage of a complex rebuilding of the Mitre suburban railway’s Retiro terminus in Buenos Aires has been completed with a ceremony attended by Minister of Transport, Diego Giuliano. Services on the Mitre Railway’s JL Suárez and Tigre branches resumed running into Retiro on ...
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NewsAlstom to build Vande Bharat sleeper EMUs
INDIA: Indian Railways has named Alstom as low-bidder for a contract to supply and maintain 100 aluminium bodied Vande Bharat 4.0 trainsets with sleeping car facilities for use on longer-distance routes. Alstom’s bid is valued at Rs1·51bn per 16-coach train, compared with Rs1·69bn from a consortium ...
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NewsNarrow gauge hydrogen trains ordered
ITALY: Sardinian transport operator ARST and Ferrovie della Calabria have placed a joint order for 12 hydrogen powered multiple-units. The €156m contract awarded to Stadler on June 19 is being funded from Italy’s National Recovery & Resilience Plan. The 950 mm gauge trainsets will be 50 ...
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Rail Business UKArriva’s London Overground operating concession to be extended
UK: Transport for London has awarded Arriva a two-year extension to its concession to operate London Overground services. Arriva Rail London has operated London Overground inner-suburban services under a concession model since November 2016. TfL takes the revenue risk, while the operator receives a fixed payment ...
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Rail Business UKCaledonian Sleeper moves to Scottish government ownership
UK: The first Caledonian Sleeper night train services under Scottish government ownership ran on June 25, following the end of the contract previously held by Serco. The last Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd trains ran on the night of Friday June 23, as there is no Saturday ...
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NewsBrightline completes construction of Orlando extension
USA: Private sector inter-city operator Brightline has formally marked the completion of construction work on its northern extension from West Palm Beach to Orlando, where passenger services are expected to launch this summer. Construction of the Orlando extension began in June 2019, one year after Brightline ...
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NewsLTG Link orders inter-city and battery trains to transform journey quality
LITHUANIA: National passenger operator LTG Link has awarded Stadler a contract to supply electric inter-city and battery regional multiple-units, in the Swiss manufacturer’s first contract in Lithuania. The contract signed on June 21 includes a €226·5m base order for Stadler Polska to supply nine Flirt EMUs ...
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Rail Business UKTrain frequency focus in North Wales Transport Commission’s interim recommendations
UK: The North Wales Transport Commission chaired by Lord Burns has published its interim recommendations for the development and delivery of an integrated multi-modal transport system in the region. For the rail sector, NWTC supports proposed improvements at Chester station to enable additional services to operate. ...
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NewsShimla mountain railway coaches on test
INDIA: Panoramic coaches specially built for Indian Railways’ UNESCO World Heritage listed 762 mm gauge Kalka - Shimla line are now on test. The Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala has built an Air-Conditioned Executive Chair Car with 12 seats, an AC Chair ...
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NewsADIF eyes more open access as Spanish high speed ridership surges
SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF has put forward proposals for the expansion of open access operations across the Spanish rail network, building on the experience of competition on selected high speed lines. Speaking at the UNIFE General Assembly in Madrid on June 15, ADIF President María Domínguez-González ...
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NewsRail Online adds Amtrak and VIA Rail to ticket sales platform
NORTH AMERICA: Ticket retailer Rail Online has added Amtrak and VIA Rail services to its booking platform. Rail Online offers the same prices as tickets bought directly through the operators, with instant refunds on e-tickets and payment in US or Canadian dollars. ‘Following a successful launch ...