Passenger rail news – Page 263
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NewsFyra brand for Amsterdam - Brussels high speed
EUROPE: Amsterdam - Brussels high speed services will be branded 'Fyra', NS Hispeed and SNCB revealed on July 7. The announcement at NedTrain's Watergraafsmeer high speed train depot was accompanied by a formal presentation of the prototype of the AnsaldoBreda 250 km/h V250 trainsets, previously known as 'Albatros'. NS ...
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NewsCan you hear me?
INFORMATION: As the extent of station public address coverage has increased, so have complaints from residents living nearby. Technology is available to automatically sample background noise before an announcement is made and adjust the volume to ensure it is heard without causing too much disturbance beyond the station, but many ...
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NewsDSB agrees Desiro DMU framework contract
DENMARK: DSB and Siemens Mobility have reached a framework agreement for the supply of up to 100 Desiro Classic regional diesel multiple-units. DSB placed a firm order for an initial eight two-car units on July 2, and has options for a further 92 units. The price is not being disclosed. ...
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NewsEuroMaint wins Arlanda Express refurbishment
SWEDEN: EuroMaint Rail has won a SKr100m contract to refurbish the Arlanda Express trainsets. 'The fleet of seven Arlanda Express trains is to be given a brand new, modern design', said Per Thorstenson, Chief Executive of A-Train, operator of the dedicated shuttle service from Stockholm C to the capital's main ...
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NewsMore Talent 2 EMUs on the way
GERMANY: DB announced a €100m order for a further 22 Bombardier Talent 2 electric multiple-units on July 1. They are to be deployed on E-Netz Franken regional and regional express services from the end of 2011, when DB Regio subsidiary Regional- und Stadtverkehr Bayern GmbH takes over responsibility for operations ...
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NewsVeolia prepares to expand
EUROPE: Changes in the regulatory landscape are opening up opportunities for Veolia Transport, according to CEO Cyrille du Peloux. Speaking to Railway Gazette International on June 10, he highlighted the Public Service Regulation which comes into force in December, and the liberalisation of international passenger rail services from January 1 ...
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NewsGovernment to take over National Express East Coast franchise
UK: Secretary of State for Transport Lord Adonis announced on July 1 that the government was taking back control of the Inter-City East Coast franchise currently operated by National Express Group. The move followed publication of the group's pre-close trading statement ahead of its half-year results due on July 30, ...
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NewsCompetition gets going
SWEDEN: The first open access trains on the national inter-city network began running on June 22, when Veolia Transport launched an overnight service between Malmö, Göteborg and Narvik using traction supplied by Hector Rail. The launch follows a decision by the Swedish government to end the monopoly enjoyed by ...
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NewsJR East unveils Series E5 trainset
JAPAN: East Japan Railway has unveiled the pre-mass production Series E5 trainset for 320 km/h operation on the Tohoku Shinkansen. It will undergo performance and endurance tests later this year, ready for the series-build trains to enter service on the high speed line extension from Hachinohe to Shin-Aomori when it ...
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NewsSoutheastern ready to launch High Speed service
UK: Domestic passenger services will begin using High Speed 1 on June 29, when Southeastern launches a limited ‘preview’ service between Ashford and London ahead of the introduction of the full service with the December timetable change. The train operator will then have three service groups: High ...
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NewsPPP possibility for Auckland electric trains
NEW ZEALAND: The government is study the possibility of using a public-private partnership model for the acquisition of electric multiple-units for the Auckland electrification project. 'The use of public private partnerships can be a sensible way to procure this kind of expensive, long-life asset' said Transport Minister Steven Joyce ...
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NewsLine 3 completes high speed network
BELGIUM: Line 3 between Liège and the German border was inaugurated on June 12, completing the last link in the star-shaped national high speed network and making Belgium the first European country to have a network of high speed lines linking its borders. Line 3 became available to ...
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NewsCambodian rail concession signed
CAMBODIA: The government and a joint venture led by Toll Group signed a 30-year concession agreement covering Royal Cambodian Railways on June 12. The metre gauge rail network is to be operated by a joint venture in which the Australian group has a 55% stake, with the ...
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NewsMontréal may electrify
CANADA: Agence Métropolitaine de Transport and Hydro-Québec agreed on May 5 to invite proposals for a study to determine the feasibility of electrifying four of Montréal’s commuter rail routes totalling 250 km. Only one line, the Deux-Montagnes, is now operated by electric traction. Converting the Dorion, Blainville and Delson routes ...
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NewsGovia retains South Central franchise
UK: The Department for Transport has awarded the next South Central passenger franchise to incumbent Govia, a joint venture of Go-Ahead (65%) and Keolis (35%). The other shortlisted bidders were National Express Group, NedRailways and Stagecoach. The new franchise will retain the name Southern. It runs for five years ...
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NewsNew Polish locomotive speed record
POLAND: Siemens has claimed a Polish speed record for a locomotive-hauled train, with a pair of Eurosprinter locomotives reaching 235 km/h between Psary and Góra Wlodowska during trials on the CMK fast line on May 29. The test train comprised two ES64U4 multi-system electric locomotives which Siemens has sent to ...
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NewsWroclaw suburban vision
POLAND: Dolnoslaskie voivodship has presented plans to develop an intensive suburban network in Wroclaw. Implementation should start this year, although the date has still not been set, and tenders for new rolling stock are expected shortly. The proposed 701 km Dolnoslaskie Kolej Dojazdowa network will encompass 43 local authorities with ...
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NewsWireless alliance targets Indian rail market
INDIA: Zylog Systems has formed a strategic alliance with Nomad Digital to develop wireless telecoms products for the Indian rail market. Nomad hopes to expand into Asia based on its experience of installing WiMax technology in the UK and supplying wireless internet services for railways and transit operators in ...
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NewsAn international transfer
EUROPE: We reported briefly in April that SNCF intended to increase its stake in contract operator Keolis from 45·5% to 57% by transferring its Effia subsidiary into the business. On the face of it, the restructuring appears not to be of major significance - Effia specialises in car park operation ...
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NewsRail collision test highlights crashworthiness research
UK: Automotive and defence testing organisation MIRA has staged a full-scale rail collision to showcase opportunities for technology transfer between road and rail ahead of the implementation of further EU regulations covering the crashworthiness of rolling stock. The collision aimed to replicate an impact scenario set out in EN15227. ...