Passenger rail news – Page 19
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Rail Business UKInterview: ‘You can’t innovate as a monopolist’
UK: Avanti West Coast and c2c parent Trenitalia is ready to make significant investment in Britain’s railways, mirroring its recent expansion in Spain. But this is contingent on the government relaxing its grip on the industry, the company’s UK Managing Director Ernesto Sicilia explains to Nick Kingsley and Sophie Burton.
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NewsMetre-gauge line to be modernised
SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF has called tenders for a comprehensive upgrade of the 1 000 mm gauge Cercedilla – Los Cotos mountain railway, which is operated as Madrid suburban Line C9.
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Metro Report InternationalParis suburban services show real-time occupancy
FRANCE: Paris suburban operator SNCF Transilien and transport authority Ile-de-France Mobilités have launched a real-time train occupancy information system on routes H, J, K, L, N, P, R and E, which use Francilien and Regio 2N EMUs equipped with suitable data systems. Infrared sensors at every ...
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NewsLeo Express targets significant market share by 2030
CZECH REPUBLIC: Open access and public service contract operator Leo Express says it is aiming to gain a ‘significant’ share of the Czech passenger market by 2030, and to launch further services in neighbouring countries. In 2022 its train and coach services in the Czech Republic, ...
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NewsCRRC DMUs enter service on Lobito – Benguela line
ANGOLA: Three diesel multiple-units supplied by CRRC Tangshan have entered revenue service on the Lobito – Benguela line. The trains are being used on the Ombaka Express service operated by Caminho de Ferro de Benguela; the Lobito to Benguela journey takes 30 min. An adult ticket ...
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NewsRetail group offers staff discounted Deutschlandticket
GERMANY: REWE is the first company to sign a national framework agreement with Deutsche Bahn enabling the retail and tourism group’s 150 000 staff to use the Deutschlandticket as a Jobticket employer-subsidised season ticket. REWE Group employees can now buy a monthly Deutschlandticket for €34·30 rather ...
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NewsConstruction starts on Firenze high speed tunnel
ITALY: Work on the 7 km twin-bore tunnel to carry the country’s north-south high speed under Firenze was officially inaugurated on May 15, with the launch of the first tunnel boring machine near Campo di Marte station. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Infrastructure & ...
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NewsUAE luxury cruise train service planned
UAE: Etihad Rail and Italian luxury hospitality company Arsenale have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of a luxury cruise train, which would operate in UAE and potentially in Oman and across the Gulf Co-operation Council countries as the region’s rail network expands. The ...
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NewsWork to start in September on five-year rebuild of Praha Smíchov station
CZECH REPUBLIC: Infrastructure manager Správa Železnic has awarded Strabag Rail a KC60·8m contract for the first phase of rebuilding Praha’s Smíchov station. SŽ received planning approval in March for the reconstruction of one of the capital’s busiest stations, and the contract was signed on May 2. ...
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NewsDeutsche Bahn orders 73 ICE trainsets
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has announced two orders for a total of 73 inter-city trainsets.
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NewsDanish IC5 Coradia Stream mock-up unveiled
DENMARK: National passenger operator DSB has unveiled a full-size mock-up of the IC5 Coradia Stream multiple-units which Alstom is to supply to replace IC3, IC4, IR4 and Øresund trainsets on inter-city and regional services. The IC5 design combines ‘innovation, sustainability and great passenger comfort in the ...
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NewsOuigo España launches Madrid – Alacant service
SPAIN: SNCF’s low-cost subsidiary Ouigo España launched two pairs of daily trains between Madrid Chamartín and Alacant on April 28, following a ceremony at Alacant Terminal the previous day. The trains call only at Albacete Los Llanos on the 486 km route from Madrid Chamartín to ...
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Rail Business UKNo silver bullet promised as TransPennine Express to transfer to Operator of Last Resort
UK: FirstGroup’s National Rail Contract to operate TransPennine Express services will not be renewed when it expires on May 28, Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper announced on May 11. Operations will instead be transferred to the government’s Operator of Last Resort. Services will run ...
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In depthAustria: A transport network for everyone
Emerging EU legislation on accessibility will put stronger regulatory requirements on public transport operators to ensure their services are open to all. Faced with a mix of modes including a large legacy tramway, Wien operator Wiener Linien is making steady progress towards meeting this challenge. Toma Bačić reports.
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail trials mid-week engineering work to reflect post-pandemic travel demand
UK: With data from inter-city operator LNER suggesting that that Fridays and Sundays are now the most popular days for travel on the East Coast Main Line, infrastructure manager Network Rail is to undertake engineering work mid-week rather than at the weekend as a trial. Track, ...
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In depthAccessibility: Time to ‘mind the gap’, once and for all
The provision of level boarding between platforms and trains improves accessibility for all passengers, while cutting station dwell times and reducing safety risks. Gareth Dennis looks at the challenges and considers the best way to solve them.
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NewsIndian Railways reports buoyant business in post-Covid rebound
INDIA: Publishing its final results for the 2022-23 financial year, Indian Railways has reported a 27·75% increase in revenue for the 12 months to March 31. Reflecting economic buoyancy in the face of global headwinds, the national railway reported revenues of Rs2·44tr for the year. This ...
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NewsDSB cleared to order automated S-bane trains
DENMARK: State-owned operator DSB has received government authorisation to start the procurement of its next generation of trains for the København S-bane, paving the way for fully-automated operation from 2029. Due to be rolled out over the next 15 years, the trains are intended to replace ...
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Rail Business UKNo fee promise as ‘nimble and ambitious’ challenger enters rail ticketing market
UK: ‘This is the perfect time for a nimble and ambitious player to challenge the status quo’ says James Dunne, CEO of Australian company Rail Online which has announced its entry into the National Rail ticket retailing market with a platform offering no booking fees and automated aftersales functions.
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Rail Business UKCrowns, chocolates, a named train and planning ahead as rail industry prepares for the coronation
UK: Additional services, longer trains and queuing systems are planned to handle the crowds who are expected to travel to events marking the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on May 6 and the concert to be held in Windsor the following day.