Passenger rail news – Page 230
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NewsComfort at reasonable cost
INDIA: Following successful deployment on the Howrah – Dhanbad route last year, the first air-conditioned double-deck train to operate from Delhi to Jaipur was flagged off by Minister of Railways Mukul Roy and Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit on August 24. The stainless steel coaches have been designed and ...
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NewsHokuriku Shinkansen high speed train design revealed
JAPAN: The exterior and interior styling of the high speed trainsets to be built for the Hokuriku Shinkansen route was unveiled on September 4. The high speed line between Nagano and Kanazawa is scheduled to open at the end of 2014, cutting Tokyo - Kanazawa journey times to about ...
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NewsZRL takes charge as Zambian concession revoked
ZAMBIA: State-owned holding company Zambia Railways Ltd resumed control of the national rail network on September 11, following the government’s decision to revoke the operating concession awarded to Railway Systems of Zambia Ltd in 2003. Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda had announced on September 10 that the government had decided on ...
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NewsÖstgötatrafiken orders Alstom EMUs
SWEDEN: Östergötland transport authority Östgötatrafiken has placed a firm order for Alstom's Salzgitter plant to supply eight more Coradia Nordic X61 regional electric multiple-units by early 2015. The four-car units are designed for winter temperatures of -35°C, with roof-mounted equipment to blast away snow and ice. The €50m ...
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NewsTuran Express launches Almaty - Korgas passenger service
KAZAKHSTAN: Private sector operator Turan Express launched an overnight passenger train between Almaty and Altynkol on September 3, having run a trial on September 1. It uses the recently-completed 293 km Zhetigen - Korgas line, built by national railway KTZ to provide a second freight route to the Chinese border. ...
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NewsZefiro 250NG included in revised high speed train contract
CHINA: After reviewing its operational strategy, the Ministry of Railways has issued a variation order to its 2009 contract under which the Bombardier Sifang (Qingdao) Transportation joint venture was to supply 20 eight-car and 60 16-car high speed trainsets. The number of 380 km/h trainsets has now been reduced, ...
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NewsTransport Reform Network launches investment debate
AUSTRALIA: Representatives of more than 30 organisations attended the launch of the Transport Reform Network on August 29. TRN is a cross-industry coalition which aims 'to address Australia's looming transport crisis by seeking changes in the scoping, funding and pricing of transport infrastructure'. Australasian Railway Association CEO Bryan Nye warned ...
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NewsRegional trains to use high speed lines
FRANCE: Pays de La Loire region is funding a €15·8m programme to modify eight SNCF TER electric multiple-units to operate regional services on the high speed line now under construction between Le Mans and Rennes. Modifications will raise the maximum speed of the EMUs to 200 km/h. According to infrastructure ...
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NewsCycle-Rail Toolkit published
UK: The Association of Train Operating Companies has published a 'Cycle-Rail Toolkit' containing guidelines to help railway managers and local authorities make it easier for passengers to combine cycling with rail travel. Devised in consultation with train operators, the Department for Transport and cycling organisations, the publication draws on international ...
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NewsGE Transportation unveils Tier 4-compliant diesel locomotive
USA: In a ceremony at its plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, GE Transportation unveiled the prototype for its next generation of Evolution Series diesel locomotives on August 24. This is claimed to be the first to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s stringent Tier 4 emissions standards without needing a urea additive ...
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NewsCzech Railways finally takes over Railjet train order
CZECH REPUBLIC: National passenger operator CD finally approved the purchase of a reduced batch of seven 230 km/h Viaggio Comfort seven-car push-pull trainsets from Siemens Mobility on August 16. They are to be deployed jointly with Austrian Federal Railways on the Praha - Brno - Wien - Graz ...
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NewsTrenitalia unveils Frecciarossa 1000
ITALY: Prime Minister Mario Monti unveiled a full-size mock-up of Trenitalia’s next generation of high speed trains at the ‘Rimini Meeting’ summer festival on August 19, describing the Frecciarossa 1000 as a ‘new technological jewel, made entirely in Italy’. On show in Rimini until August 25, the mock-up is also ...
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NewsNational Express targets German rail sector
GERMANY: UK bus and rail operator National Express announced on August 17 that it was seeking to enter the regional rail market in Germany, with the formation of a local subsidiary. Based in Düsseldorf, National Express Rail GmbH has reportedly already prequalified for contracts to operate four regional lines. ‘We ...
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NewsDB orders Traxx locomotives
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has placed a firm order for Bombardier Transportation to supply a further 32 Class 146 Traxx electric locomotives for regional passenger services. The €108m contract announced on August 16 an option on existing agreements. Delivery is planned for 2014, with the 160 km/h locomotives to be used ...
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NewsFirstGroup awarded Inter-City West Coast franchise
UK: First West Coast Ltd has been selected to operate inter-city services on the West Coast Main Line between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Scotland for up to 15 years, Transport Minister Theresa Villiers announced on August 15. Running for 13 years and 4 months from December 9 2012, with an ...
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NewsMotivePower signs contract for first Tier 4 passenger locos
CANADA: Greater Toronto transport authority Metrolinx has signed a US$45m contract for MotivePower to repower 11 of its diesel locomotives with twin Cummins QSK60 engines. The MPXpress locomotives were built by MotivePower about five years ago for use on commuter services. After repowering, they will be the first North American ...
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NewsKeolis buys NS stake in Syntus
NETHERLANDS: An agreement for Keolis to purchase the 50% stake in Syntus which is currently held by joint venture partner NS was announced on August 6. Keolis and NS had confirmed in June that local bus and train operator Syntus was 'temporarily experiencing financial difficulties', causing customers and staff to ...
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NewsSBB orders eight New Pendolino tilting trains
SWITZERLAND: Swiss Federal Railways has placed a firm order for eight more New Pendolino tilting trains, Alstom announced on August 2. They are scheduled to be delivered in 2015, replacing ETR470 trainsets on international services from Genève and Zürich to Milano. The SFr275m order is an option on a contract ...
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NewsCzech Railways gets more accessible
CZECH REPUBLIC: National passenger operator CD has begun testing a coach which has been refurbished by Slovak company ŽOS Trnava and made more accessible to passengers with disabilities. The air-conditioned coach has four six-seat compartments and a 12-seat open area. The refurbishment included installing a wheelchair lift and an accessible ...
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NewsDouble-deck sleeping car on test in Russia
RUSSIA: Transmashholding's Tver Carriage Works has completed the first phase of acceptance testing with a newly-developed Type 61-4472 double-deck sleeping and crew car. Designed to carry 50 passengers, the coach has a compartment with wheelchair access and secure storage. In December 2010 Russian Railways awarded Tver Carriage Works a ...