Passenger rail news – Page 48
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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 ...
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NewsQbuzz and Flixtrain plan international open access services from the Netherlands
NETHERLANDS: Qbuzz has applied to competition authority Autoriteit Consument & Markt for permission to operate seven Amsterdam – Berlin and seven Amsterdam – Antwerpen – Brussels – Paris open access passenger services from January 2027, plus two trains per hour from Amsterdam to Eindhoven. The international ...
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NewsGoldenPass Express begins gauge-changing again after wheel spacing modification
SWITZERLAND: The GoldenPass Express service has once again begun running through from Montreux to Interlaken, after modifications were made to the gauge-changing rolling stock to address problems with excessive track wear. Through running from the metre gauge Montreux-Oberland Bahn network to standard gauge BLS tracks began ...
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NewsRENFE establishes French subsidiary
FRANCE: Spanish national operator RENFE has completed the formation of a French subsidiary, enabling it to start commercial activities associated with proposed train services to France. RENFE is now registered in Lyon as a provider of domestic and international rail passenger services, travel and tourism services and ...
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Rail Business UKAugmented reality station maps designed to assist passengers
UK: Indoor wayfinding company Briteyellow has created augmented reality maps of six of the largest stations served by Transport for Wales, to help passengers locate facilities such as information screens, lifts, toilets, help points and waiting rooms. It is hoped the AR maps can be used ...
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NewsMinister blocks Cape Town suburban rail devolution ‘for now’
SOUTH AFRICA: ‘For now we are not in the process of devolving railway services, that is why Prasa is busy building up railway services in the Western Cape’, national Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga told local media during a site visit to Cape Town in May. ...
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NewsSeibu Railway investment plan
JAPAN: Seibu Railway is to place an order for four more Kawasaki Heavy Industries Series 40000 EMUs as part of its ¥25·1bn investment programme for the current year.
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NewsIraq plans rail link from Turkey to the Gulf
IRAQ: Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani has unveiled plans for a rail and road corridor to Europe via Turkey. The 1 200 km line was announced on May 27 during a conference with transport ministry officials from Iran, Jordan, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and ...
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NewsEBRD lends €200m for Ukrainian rail links to the EU
UKRAINE: The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development is to provide national railway Ukrzaliznytsya with a €200m sovereign loan to support the upgrading of rail links with the European Union. The funding will allow UZ to continue to provide vital services, rehabilitate rail corridors to the ...
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NewsTrenes Argentinos restores Palmira service after 30-year hiatus
ARGENTINA: On June 2 Trenes Argentinos restarted long-distance passenger services on the Justo Daract – Palmira section of the 1 676 mm gauge San Martín main line following a 30-year hiatus. Services running west from Buenos Aires to Mendoza ended in 1993, but were reinstated as ...
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NewsSale of Arriva’s Danish and Serbian businesses completed
EUROPE: München-based private equity investor Mutares says it plans to increase operational efficiency and leverage ‘strong expertise in tendering for public sector contracts’ following its acquisition of Arriva’s activities in Denmark and Serbia. The transaction covers bus services in Denmark and Serbia, plus rail, ferry and ...
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NewsNetherlands – Belgium – France open access train service planned
EUROPE: Arriva Nederland has applied for permission to launch an open access passenger service from the north of the Netherlands to Belgium and Paris.
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NewsEFE to launch more regional passenger services
CHILE: President Gabriel Boric announced on June 1 that regional train services are to be introduced in three regions under the Trenes de Cercanía 30/30 programme.
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NewsIryo launches Madrid to Alacant service
SPAIN: Private high speed operator Iryo launched two pairs of return trains between Madrid Chamartín and Alacant on June 2. The inaugural service departed at 07.45 from Madrid to Alacant, with Transport Minister Xavier Flores onboard. Trains leave Madrid Chamartín at 07.45 and 15.45 daily, while ...
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NewsAmtrak applies for federal grants to expand services
USA: National passenger operator Amtrak has applied for federal funding for projects to improve long distance and Northeast Corridor services. On June 5 Amtrak announced that it was seeking funding for 16 projects on its long distance network including: Cardinal and Sunset Limited service improvements, ...