Passenger rail news – Page 64
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NewsExtremadura high speed line inaugurated
SPAIN: Passenger services began using an upgraded 193 km mixed-traffic route between Plasencia and Badajoz in Extremadura on July 19, following the inauguration of three sections of new alignment totalling 146 km by King Felipe VI the previous day.
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NewsNorwegian operating contracts renegotiated
NORWAY: National rail authority Jernbanedirektoratet has completed the renegotiation of its tendered train operating contracts to reflect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The three tendered contracts with Go-Ahead Norge, SJ Norge and Vy Tog all came into force before the outbreak of Covid-19 in early ...
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NewsTracklaying completed on Sotetsu – Tokyu Link
JAPAN: The completion of tracklaying on the link line connecting the Sotetsu and Tokyu railways was marked with a ceremony at Shin-Yokohama on July 8.
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In depthAfrica: SNCC restores passenger services in DR Congo
Passenger services have been reinstated on the 1 067 mm gauge line from Lubumbashi to Kananga following the arrival of modern rolling stock from China. Murray Hughes reports.
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NewsMixed response to Spanish free rail travel proposals
SPAIN: Measures to encourage regular commuters to shift from car to rail including free season tickets were outlined by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during the government’s State of the Nation debate in mid-July, however the limitations of the offer have led to confusion among policymakers and campaign groups.
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Metro Report InternationalDolderbahn rack railcar design unveiled
SWITZERLAND: City transport operator Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich has unveiled the design of two railcars ordered for the Dolderbahn, which climbs 162 m in 1 328 m using the von Roll rack system. In June 2021 VBZ awarded Stadler Bussnang a SFr10·6m contract to supply two Bhe 1/2 ...
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Metro Report InternationalBarking Riverside extension opens
UK: The 4·5 km Barking Riverside extension of the London Overground network opened on July 18. London Overground concessionaire Arriva Rail London is now operating four trains per hour as an extension of its Gospel Oak – Barking route, offering a 7 min journey time between ...
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In depthInterview: Gautrain sees a stable path to growth
Having made a positive socio-economic impact since opening a decade ago, the 1 435 mm gauge Gautrain network serving Johannesburg and Tshwane is seeing passengers return gradually after the pandemic. Benjámin Zelki asks William Dachs, CEO of the province’s organising authority Gautrain Management Agency, how he sees the future.
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NewsTraffic boost envisaged in Belgian operating contracts
BELGIUM: Final negotiations over the next 10-year operating contracts for state-owned passenger operator SNCB and national infrastructure manager Infrabel are expected to start in the coming weeks, following the publication of draft versions for consultation. According to federal Minister of Mobility Georges Gilkinet, rail needs to ...
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NewsElectric railway opened to serve Cairo’s new cities
EGYPT: President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi has inaugurated the first phase of the 103 km Capital Train ‘light rail transit’ electric suburban railway which is being built to connect Cairo with 10th Ramadan City and the New Administrative Capital. The ceremony was held on July 3, ...
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In depthPassenger Rolling Stock: Lightweight railcar deploys composite components
The UK’s Very Light Rail demonstrator vehicle has made extensive use of composite components in the bodyshell, production of which can now be automated to reduce costs.
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In depthBenelux: Faster timings in prospect with ICNG fleet
Part of the fleet of Intercity New Generation trainsets now being tested by Netherlands Railways is destined to replace the locomotive-hauled ICRm sets currently in use on Amsterdam – Brussels services via HSL-Zuid, trimming up to 40 min off the journey. The rest of the 200 km/h fleet will be deployed on domestic routes.
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NewsSBB drops active suspension on Twindexx fleet
SWITZERLAND: Swiss Federal Railways has announced that it will no longer pursue plans to introduce active suspension on its fleet of Twindexx double-deck electric multiple-units. SBB had planned to launch the technology on inter-city versions of its Twindexx fleet in 2027 as a means of saving ...
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NewsErfurter Bahn gets direct award
GERMANY: The Land of Thüringen has directly awarded Erfurter Bahn a contract to operate a Zeulenroda – Hof passenger service from June 2022 to December 2024. The contract covers 360 000 train-km/year. A direct award was used as the service is operated as a continuation of ...
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NewsDB becomes Star Alliance’s first Intermodal Partner
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn is to become the first Intermodal Partner of the Star Alliance on August 1, in a move which the train operator and group of airlines said sends a ‘strong signal for the environmentally-friendly evolution of the travel industry’. The Intermodal Partner model aims ...
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In depthPassenger Rolling Stock: Building better trains in India
Indian Railways is developing a new generation of passenger coaches aimed at weaning travellers away from rapidly growing air and road services. Raghu Dayal investigates.
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NewsComfortable seats and good connectivity specified in inter-regional train order
SWEDEN: State-owned passenger operator SJ has awarded CAF a €300m contract to supply 25 five-car inter-regional electric multiple-units, with options for 35 more. The 200 km/h units from the Spanish manufacturer’s Civity Nordic family will be winterised to withstand snow and temperatures down to -40ºC. They ...
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NewsSan Diego operations and maintenance taken in-house
USA: San Diego’s North County Transit District has completed the insourcing of operation and maintenance of its Coaster and Sprinter regional passenger services. This was previously undertaken by Alstom, as successor to Bombardier Transportation, and sees almost 100 staff transfer to the agency. ‘This transition will ...
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Metro Report InternationalCentral bank to roll out national contactless transport payment system
COSTA RICA: The SINPE-TP national electronic payment system for public transport is being rolled out on trains and buses by central bank BCCR, which estimates that contactless payments for public transport could reduce cash payments nationwide by 25%. Announcing a contract to provide BCCR with a ...
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NewsCross-border links backed as €5·4bn in grants awarded at Connecting Europe Days
A total of €5·4bn in transport investment funding was announced at the Connecting Europe Days in Lyon on June 29. Toma Bačić reports from Lyon.