Passenger rail news – Page 77
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Rail Business UKVirtual reality simulation aims to ‘empower people to use public transport’
UK: A virtual reality simulation is being developed to enable disabled passengers to take simulated journeys where they can experience trains and stations, and interact with on-board staff to find out about the support available. Northern’s Commercial & Customer Director Mark Powles said the aim is ...
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NewsEurostar brand to remain after Thalys merger
EUROPE: European high speed operators Eurostar and Thalys confirmed on October 4 that their planned merger announced in September 2019 is on course to be completed ‘within two to three years’, with a formal submission to the European Commission’s competition authority expected in 2022. Being taken ...
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NewsInvestment needed to roll out Digital Capacity Management
EUROPE: Associations representing infrastructures managers and train operators have endorsed a joint call for EU funding to help roll out Digital Capacity Management to optimise the utilisation of the continent’s rail network for both freight and passenger traffic.
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NewsAgilis selected for Oberfranken operating contract
GERMANY: Bayern Land railway agency BEG has selected Agilis for a contract to operate regional passenger services in Oberfranken for 12 years from December 2023. The contract will bring together all diesel-worked services in the region, most of which are currently operated by Agilis with some ...
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NewsBrightline fleet expansion begins as Orlando extension nears completion
USA: The first of the additional Venture trainsets which Siemens Mobility is building for the second phase of Brightline’s Miami – Orlando inter-city service was unveiled at the manufacturer’s Sacramento plant on September 28.
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NewsFirst VIA Rail trainset arrives for testing
CANADA: The first of 32 inter-city trainsets being built for VIA Rail has been dispatched from the Siemens Mobility plant in Sacramento to the operator’s Montréal maintenance depot for testing and commissioning. Following delivery, the first train is expected to be tested ...
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NewsOuigo to launch loco-hauled trains and serve more destinations
FRANCE: SNCF’s low-cost subsidiary Ouigo is to launch three additional routes from spring 2022, using refurbished loco-hauled trains to augment its high-density TGV trainsets.
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NewsImpact of the pandemic on rail remains ‘dire’, says CER
EUROPE: The September update of the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies’ Covid Impact Tracker shows signs of improvement for passenger train services, but none for freight and a worsening of the financial situation for infrastructure managers.
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NewsUIC to host Rail Accessibility Day
ACCESSIBILITY: The International Union of Railways is to hold an online Rail Accessibility Day to raise awareness of the importance of inclusion, highlight the efforts being made to improve accessibility and discuss challenges which the industry faces. The event on October 5 will include representatives of ...
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NewsRailcoop awarded operating licence
FRANCE: Open access operator Railcoop has been granted an operating licence to run both passenger and freight trains, marking another step in the not-for-profit co-operative’s journey towards regular day-to-day operations.
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Rail Business UKOperator of Last Resort to take over Southeastern after ‘£25m breach of franchise agreement’
UK: The Department for Transport’s Operator of Last Resort is to take over the running of Southeastern services after Govia’s current management contract expires on October 16. The government’s decision follows an investigation of profit sharing agreements, which found that more than £25m of historic taxpayer ...
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NewsIstanbul’s historic European terminus to be reopened
TURKEY: The Ministry for Transport is to call tenders for the reopening of the 8 km section of railway into Istanbul’s historic European terminus at Sirkeci. The double-track main line was cut back in 2013 to allow construction of the cross-Bosporus Marmaray commuter link, which diverges ...
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NewsDB begins work to electrify to the Austrian border
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has begun work to install 15 kV 16·7 Hz electrification on a 1·5 km section of line between Pfronten-Steinach and the Austrian border at Schönbichl. This will allow electric operation of trains to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and München via Austria’s Ausserfernbahn, which is not connected ...
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Rail Business UKDirect awards agreed with Greater Anglia and West Midlands Trains
UK: The Abellio-led Greater Anglia and West Midlands Trains businesses have agreed directly-awarded National Rail Contracts with the Department for Transport, ahead of the expiry of their Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement contracts on September 19. Both business are currently run as joint ventures between Abellio and ...
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NewsFirst new Nightjet stock ready for testing
AUSTRIA: The first two vehicles for Austrian Federal Railways’ new fleet of Nightjet overnight trainsets have been dispatched from Siemens Mobility’s Simmering plant in Wien for the start of testing and certification. The first vehicles to be released are a push-pull driving trailer seated car and an ...
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NewsDSB awards EMU depot contract
DENMARK: DSB has awarded a DKr641m contract to MT Højgaard Danmark for construction of the first of two dedicated maintenance depots to support the fleet of inter-city EMUs on order from Alstom. The København depot is to be developed on the site of the capital’s former ...
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NewsTransdev picked to run Région Sud TER package
FRANCE: Région Sud has selected Transdev for a 10-year concession to operate regional trains between Marseille, Toulon and Nice, ahead of rival bids from SNCF and Thello.
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NewsSotetsu Series 21000 EMU enters service
JAPAN: Sagami Railway has put into service the first of four Series 21000 EMUs ordered to operate through services to Tokyo’s Meguro station over the Sotetsu-Tokyu Link.
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NewsWestbahn unveils Kiss 3 double-deck EMUs to celebrate sustainable travel pass
AUSTRIA: Open access operator Westbahn has unveiled the first of 15 third-generation six-car Kiss trainsets. Ordered from Stadler under a €300m full-service contract in October 2019, the double-deck EMUs are due to carry their first fare-paying passengers on September 9. Westbahn announced during a press trip ...
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NewsFirst ILSA ETR1000 high speed train starts trials
SPAIN: Open access operator ILSA announced on September 6 that the first of its 23 ETR1000 high speed trainsets had arrived in Spain from Italy and would commence running trials this week on the 44∙4 km Figueres – Perpignan cross-border route through the Pyrenees. Testing will ...