Passenger rail news – Page 24
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In depth
Mexico: Government fosters rail revival
Fresh impetus has been injected into the rail business in Mexico thanks to initiatives by the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Regulatory changes plus a long-term vision promise a revival that could include reinstating passenger services in addition to the Tren Maya project already in hand. Stefan von Mach reports.
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News
Seohae Line reaches Daegok
SOUTH KOREA: The 18·3 km Sosa – Daegok second section of Korail’s Seohae Line serving the western side of the Seoul conurbation opened for revenue services on July 1. The Wonsi – Siheung – Sosa southern section had opened in June 2018. Construction of the northern ...
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News
MÁV-Start suspends passenger services on 10 lines
HUNGARY: National passenger operator MÁV-Start has suspended rail services on 10 regional routes with effect from August 1, replacing the trains by buses ‘until further notice’.
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News
RENFE expands its open access operations in France
FRANCE: RENFE Viajeros began running open access international high speed services between Madrid and Marseille on July 28, having introduced a Barcelona – Lyon service on July 13. The two routes had previously been operated by RENFE in co-operation with SNCF since 2013, but these services ...
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News
DB passenger traffic still booming
GERMANY: In the six months to June 30 2023 Deutsche Bahn carried 990∙2 million passengers, a 7∙9% increase over the first half year in 2022. Passenger-km totalled 41 196 million, up by over 13% from 36 431 million in January to June 2022. At 15∙4%, the ...
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News
RFI makes progress with procuring €1·7bn infrastructure enhancement package
ITALY: Infrastructure manager Rete Ferroviaria Italiana awarded three civil works contacts on July 18 totalling €836m, having called tenders for a further six work packages at the end of June with a total value of €904m. The procurement covers a raft of infrastructure enhancements all funded ...
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Metro Report International
RENFE pilots Green Mobility Hubs
SPAIN: National train operator RENFE has launched a Green Mobility Hub pilot project to encourage rail passengers to opt for environmentally friendly first- and last-mile transport to and from stations. Suburban station car parks will be adapted to provide facilities for bikes, vehicle sharing and for ...
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News
Prasa reintroduces Gauteng suburban service
SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has restarted a limited service on the Germiston – Leralla line in the Johannesburg suburbs. The reintroduction of services on June 27 follows a 14-month blockade to restore vandalised infrastructure. Trains are currently only calling at Leralla, Limindlela, ...
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News
All-Island Strategic Rail Review makes 30 proposals to develop railways in Ireland
EUROPE: The draft All-Island Strategic Rail Review has been published, making 30 recommendations for development of the railways in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. These include expanding the total network from 2 300 to 2 950 km, along with electrification, higher speeds and more ...
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News
Schleswig-Holstein orders ‘more comfortable, more connected and more accessible’ trains
GERMANY: Schleswig-Holstein transport authority NAH.SH has awarded Alstom a €900m contract to supply 40 Coradia Stream high-capacity electric multiple-units and provide 30 years of maintenance.
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Rail Business UK
Viewpoint: Passenger experience must be protected if ticket offices close
If the proposed closure of station ticket offices in England is not purely about cost-cutting, then carefully considered customer-centric interventions will be needed to make it work, argues David Watts, Managing Director of human-centred design agency Mima.
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News
ÖBB unveils Tirol Cityjet EMU
AUSTRIA: The first of 20 Cityjet Class 4748 electric multiple-units for use by Austrian Federal Railways in Tirol has been completed. The EMUs from Siemens Mobility’s Desiro ML family are scheduled to enter service on the route between Innsbruck and Kufstein from October, with other routes ...
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News
Railpool orders 50 Traxx Universal locomotives
EUROPE: Leasing company Railpool has awarded Alstom a €260m contract to supply 50 Traxx Universal multi-system electric locomotives suitable for cross-border freight and passenger operation in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and Poland. The locomotives will be fitted with Alstom’s Atlas onboard equipment for ...
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News
Commission says Dutch train operating contract would not comply with EU rules
NETHERLANDS: The European Commission says Dutch government plans to directly award state incumbent NS a 10-year public service contract to operate most passenger train services are not compliant with EU rules. The Commission has opened an infringement procedure, saying the Netherlands has failed to correctly apply ...
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News
Mitteldeutschen S-Bahn operating contracts awarded
GERMANY: Transport authority ZVNL has awarded DB Regio and Die Länderbahn contracts to operate Mitteldeutschen S-Bahn services centred on Leipzig, which it said form one of the largest and most complex tendered networks in Germany.
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News
The Overland to continue for a further three years
AUSTRALIA: The Victoria state government has agreed an A$11·5m three-year package to support the operation of The Overland long-distance passenger trains.
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Rail Business UK
‘Fully staffed’ TransPennine Express ‘needs to become simpler’
Recently appointed interim Managing Director of state-owned TransPennine Express, Chris Jackson tells Rail Business UK about his plans to revive the fortunes of the struggling operator.
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News
Akiem signs 100-loco framework agreement
EUROPE: Alstom and leasing company Akiem have signed a €500m framework contract for up to 100 Traxx Universal MS3 locomotives, with a firm order for 65. The locomotives will be suitable for freight and inter-city passenger operations at up to 160 km/h in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, ...
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News
Eurostar check-in biometric verification goes live
The SmartCheck biometric check-in and UK border exit system has gone live at Eurostar’s London St Pancras station; Railway Gazette International tries it out and speaks to the high speed train operator and supplier iProov.
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News
Service enhancements announced as Vy signs Østlandet operating contract
NORWAY: Enhanced services are to be rolled out in eastern Norway following the signing of contracts for state-owned operator Vy to run the Østlandet network for 10 years from December 2023.