Passenger rail news – Page 65
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NewsMadrid tunnel unites Spain’s standard gauge high speed networks
SPAIN: A cross-city tunnel between Madrid Atocha and Chamartín with two 1 435 mm gauge tracks opened on July 1, integrating the standard gauge lines to the north and south of the capital. Through trains no longer need to use gauge-changers at Atocha and Chamartín, reducing ...
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In depthSouth Africa: PRASA revival hangs by a thread
Infrastructure theft and vandalism brought South Africa’s passenger railways to their knees during the pandemic lockdown of spring 2020. Restoration of PRASA’s Western Cape suburban services is now offering hope for the future, but in populous Gauteng the outlook seems bleak, with many routes rendered inoperable. Benjámin Zelki visited in early 2022.
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Metro Report InternationalGreen bonds raise funds for Virginia commuter rail improvements
USA: Commuter operator Virginia Railway Express closed a public bond sale on June 28 which will enable it to make a $119·2m contribution towards the state’s purchase of a CSX line in the Interstate 95 corridor as part of the $4bn Transforming Rail in Virginia programme. ...
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Metro Report InternationalHedjaz Railway-inspired trams planned in AlUla
SAUDI ARABIA: Plans for a 50 km light rail network with trams designed to look like trains from the historic Hedjaz Railway have been announced by the Royal Commission for AlUla. The tramway would connect urban areas, archaeological sites and tourist destinations around the ancient city ...
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NewsDB to operate Delhi – Meerut RRTS commuter railway
INDIA: National Capital Region Transport Corp has awarded Deutsche Bahn International Operations a 12-year contract to operate and maintain the future 82 km Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System. The Delhi area commuter rail project promoter said it had taken a ‘path-breaking step’ ...
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NewsNS unveils its Intercity Next Generation trainset
NETHERLANDS: The Intercity Next Generation trainset was officially unveiled by Acting President of national passenger operator NS Bert Groenewegen and Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge at Rotterdam Centraal station on July 2, ahead of entry into service later this year. NS said the trains would become an ...
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In depthComment: No time to delay
The rail industry is emerging from the pandemic facing an urgent need to prioritise investment and ensure tangible operational, productivity and technological benefits are delivered within the next five years, argues our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsGo-Ahead operating contract revised for post-pandemic world
NORWAY: Go-Ahead Group’s contract for the operation of Lot 1 Sør passenger services has been renegotiated to include a revenue support scheme as a result of the pandemic. The contract awarded by national rail authority Jernbanedirektoratet began in December 2019. It covers inter-city services on the ...
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NewsRENFE leases hotel trains to Turkish private operator
TURKEY: Spanish national operator RENFE is to lease two Talgo locomotive-hauled hotel trains to private tourist train operator Sun Tren for use on a luxury tourist service linking Istanbul with Cappadocia.
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NewsSouth Shore Line double tracking project gets underway
USA: Indiana Governor Eric J Holcomb has officially launched work to provide a double-track alignment along the whole 41 route-km section of the South Shore Line between Michigan City and Gary. This involves 29 km of double tracking, including a new 3 km segregated alignment to ...
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NewsConsultation starts on Swiss Bahn 2050 programme
SWITZERLAND: The Federal Council has put forward proposals for a further long-term programme of investment in the national rail network. Enhancement of the existing network to allow more intensive use is now seen as preferable to starting more major infrastructure projects.
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News‘Shake and brake’ earthquake safety system on test
USA: An earthquake early warning system that uses Positive Train Control to apply train brakes automatically is being tested by Los Angeles commuter operator Metrolink, California Department of Transportation and the US Geological Survey.
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NewsTexas Supreme Court backs high speed rail land acquisition
USA: The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that Dallas to Houston high speed railway project promoters Texas Central Railroad & Infrastructure and Integrated Texas Logistics do have the right to acquire land for the proposed line under the state’s eminent domain process.
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NewsAmtrak President appointed
USA: Amtrak President & CEO Stephen Gardner has announced the separation of the roles, with Roger Harris to become President from July 5. Gerhard Williams will become Executive Vice-President, Service Delivery & Operations. ‘Amtrak has entered an exciting new era of growth and development, with more ...
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NewsHeidekrautbahn hydrogen trains to be supplied with full maintenance package
GERMANY: Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn has confirmed an order for Siemens Mobility to supply and maintain seven two-car Mireo Plus H hydrogen fuel cell multiple-units for use on Heidekrautbahn service RB27 from December 2024. Designed to provide zero-emission operation on non-electrified routes, the units will have a 1·7 ...
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NewsCOTIF uniform rules applied across Estonian network
ESTONIA: The Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail’s CIV rules for international passenger traffic and the CIM equivalent for freight apply to the entire Estonian network with effect from June 16. Estonia acceded to the COTIF convention in January 2009, the last of the then EU ...
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NewsGo-Ahead condemns quality of rail infrastructure in southern Germany
GERMANY: Private operator Go-Ahead Deutschland has issued a strongly-worded statement criticising DB Netz for the quality of the railway infrastructure in Bayern and Baden-Württemburg, where the company has train operating contracts.
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Rail Business UKTrain toilet waste treatment system awarded funding
UK: Innovation agency Innovate UK has awarded rolling stock maintenance equipment supplier GBR-Rail a SMART grant to support the development of its Cleartrak train toilet treatment system which is designed to reduce whole life costs and environmental impact. Cleartrak recycles waste water for reuse in hand ...
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NewsAmtrak orders 50 locomotives
USA: Amtrak has placed a firm order for Siemens Mobility to supply a further 50 Charger locomotives. The order announced on June 23 has been placed as an option on a $850m contract awarded in December 2018. This covered an initial 75 locomotives and 20 years ...
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In depthSouth Korea: Medium speed network takes shape
Development of a ‘medium high speed network’ is now in full swing in South Korea, along with the upgrading of other corridors for both high speed and suburban traffic. Benjámin Zelki investigates.