Passenger rail news – Page 5
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NewsSerbia launches 200 km/h train services on rebuilt Novi Sad – Subotica line
SERBIA: The section of the Beograd – Budapest main line between Novi Sad, Subotica and the Hungarian border near Kelebija has reopened following a major rebuilding and realignment to allow 200 km/h running.
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Rail Business UKChiltern Railways unveils MkVa push-pull trainset and looks to battery power
UK: Chiltern Railways has unveiled the first of its future MkVa push-pull trainsets as it prepares to bring them into service between London Marylebone and Birmingham in early 2026.
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NewsPerth’s modernised Armadale Line extended to Byford
AUSTRALIA: Celebrations marked the reopening of the full length of Perth’s Armadale Line following an extensive modernisation and the extension of Transperth suburban services to the fast-growing residential area of Byford.
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NewsDB to expand half-hourly network with December 2025 timetable change
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn’s December timetable change will bring a near-doubling of destinations served by half-hourly ICE services.
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NewsRATP Dev selected for Normandie passenger train operating contract
FRANCE: The Normandie région has selected RATP Dev as preferred bidder for a contract to operate its first tendered package of regional passenger train services.
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NewsVR Sverige selected for Swedish train operating contract
SWEDEN: Transport authority Mälardalstrafik has selected the VR Sverige subsidiary of Finland’s national train operator VR as preferred bidder for a contract to operate Mälartåg passenger services.
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Rail Business UKc2c reports rebound in commuter travel amid pay-as-you-go roll-out
UK: South Essex to London train operator c2c reports that it has seen a ‘robust resurgence’ in commuter travel, with passenger volumes now at more than 80% of pre-2020 levels.
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Rail Business UKNationalised Greater Anglia to be a benchmark for other train operators
UK: The operation of Greater Anglia passenger services transferred from Transport UK to the public sector on October 12.
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NewsFrecciarossa 1000 high speed train launched as FS Group ramps up its internationalisation strategy
ITALY: National railway FS Group emphasised its ambitions for international expansion, including the launch of Paris – London services, in a panel discussion at the Expo Ferroviaria trade fair.
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NewsTrenitalia and Alstom unveil 200 km/h regional train
ITALY: Alstom and Trenitalia have unveiled a variant of the Coradia Stream regional electric multiple-unit family with a higher maximum speed of 200 km/h to enable operation on the Firenze – Roma Direttissima high speed line.
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NewsGemini selects high speed train supplier for planned Uber-branded Eurostar competitor
EUROPE: Aspiring Channel Tunnel high speed train operator Gemini Trains has selected Siemens Mobility Velaro Novo trainsets for its proposed services from London to Paris, Brussels and Köln.
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NewsInter-city fleet renewal in New South Wales makes progress
AUSTRALIA: Sydney Trains has completed deployment of 610 Mariyung double-deck EMUs on North Coast inter-city services, with Blue Mountains and South Coast lines scheduled for rollout through 2025.
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NewsStadler to supply battery and hydrogen trains for Italian narrow gauge lines
ITALY: Stadler has unveiled a 950 mm gauge battery trainset for Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, and signed a contract to supply two hydrogen trains to Ferrovia Circumetnea which also uses the so-called ’Italian metre gauge’.
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In depthPoland: Mountain link reopening reflects regional resurgence
The reopening earlier this year of a short branch line in the Sudety mountains is the latest indication of significant progress being made to enhance regional passenger services in the Dolnośląskie region of southwest Poland. Mike Bent reports.
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NewsSiemensbahn restoration partnership agreed
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has awarded contracts to nine companies for work on the reactivation of the disused Siemensbahn as part of the Berlin S-Bahn network.
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NewsCubic targets smaller transport agencies with open payments on Umo
INTERNATIONAL: Cubic Transportation Systems had added open payment capabilities to its Umo Mobility payment platform, offering passengers the ability to pay for travel by tapping a contactless bank card, mobile wallet or smartwatch.
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Rail Business UKEast Coast Main Line mobile connectivity boosted
UK: On-train mobile phone and wi-fi connectivity on the East Coast Main Line has been improved with the installation of additional phone masts between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed.
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NewsKeolis and Etihad Rail form joint venture to operate UAE passenger train services
UAE: National railway developer and operator Etihad Rail has formed the Etihad Rail Mobility joint venture with Keolis to launch passenger train services in the UAE from 2026.
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NewsPesa unveils Elf 3.0 EMU
POLAND: The first of 14 Pesa Elf 3.0 electric multiple-units ordered by regional operator Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna was unveiled at the 16th Trako International Railway Fair in Gdańsk.
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NewsParis to Wien and Berlin night trains to end after French government withdraws subsidy
EUROPE: The Paris – Wien and Paris – Berlin sleeper train services are to end with the December 14 2025 timetable change, following the French Ministry of Transport’s decision to withdraw funding for their operation.













