Passenger rail news – Page 8
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In depthJapan: Attracting traffic to rural lines
Imaginative initiatives are helping to ensure the survival of lightly used railways in rural Japan. Mike Bent reports.
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NewsWestern section of Koralmbahn opens in southern Austria
AUSTRIA: The 53 km western section of the Koralmbahn in southwest Austria opened with the timetable change on December 10.
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NewsUS government allocates $8·2bn to inter-city rail initiatives
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration has allocated a total of $8·2bn of Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail programme 2022-26 funding to 10 projects, and selected 69 proposals for further development. Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail funding State Project Maximum ...
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Rail Business UKRevolution Very Light Rail vehicles ordered for passenger trials
UK: Leasing company Eversholt Rail has awarded Transport Design International contracts to build three pre-series battery-powered Revolution Very Light Rail railcars for trial passenger operation. This follows successful tests with a diesel-battery hybrid RVLR demonstrator vehicle at Ironbridge over the past two years. RVLR is being ...
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NewsAlstom selected to renew Portuguese regional fleets
PORTUGAL: CP has named Alstom and local partner Domingos da Silva Teixeira as preferred bidder for a contract to supply 117 electric multiple-units.
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NewsFurther upgrading of Portuguese narrow-gauge line approved
PORTUGAL: The government has approved a further package of work to rehabilitate a section of the last remaining narrow-gauge line on the national network.
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NewsCross-border passenger services resume after eight years
EUROPE: Passenger services have restarted on the 45 km line linking Subotica in Serbia with Szeged in Hungary after an eight-year hiatus. An inauguration ceremony was held at Palić station in Serbia on November 28 and was attended by Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport & Infrastructure ...
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NewsMexican government seeks to revive passenger services on seven routes
MEXICO: On November 20 the national government published legislation to introduce passenger rail services on seven corridors totalling 8 000 km.
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NewsFirst Omneo Premium EMU to work Marseille – Nice service unveiled
Photo: Alstom / Samuel Dhote FRANCE: Alstom, Transdev and Région Sud have unveiled the first Omneo Premium electric multiple-unit to operate Marseille – Toulon – Nice services in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur area. Unveiled at Alstom’s Crespin plant on November 23, the first unit is expected to visit ...
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NewsRegioJet selected for ‘largest ever’ Czech operating contract
CZECH REPUBLIC: RegioJet announced on November 23 that it had been selected by the Ústecký region to operate subsidised passenger services on six regional lines. The contract will run for 15 years, starting from the December 2026 timetable change. RegioJet’s KC18·3bn offer was chosen over that ...
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News‘New York metro’ concept in updated Northeast Corridor modernisation plan
USA: Amtrak and its local and federal partners are proposing a major uplift in commuter and inter-city services between New York and New Jersey to create a ‘metro-style’ service offering at peak hours, subject to capacity enahncements in the Northeast Corridor being fully funded.
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Rail Business UKFour options under consideration for Wisbech rail service
UK: There is a ‘strong strategic case’ for reinstating passenger services to Wisbech, but the ‘art of the possible’ will be key, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority has said following a meeting with Network Rail to discuss an ongoing study of options. The Combined ...
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In depthEastern Europe: Rebuilding Serbia’s cross-border links
The Subotica – Szeged line across the Serbian-Hungarian border was due to reopen for passenger traffic in October following suspension of services for upgrading. Attention is now focused on rebuilding the Serbian part of the Beograd – Budapest main line, writes Toma Bačić.
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NewsRail-replacement helicopter service takes off
SWITZERLAND: A rail-replacement helicopter service is being offered while a funicular serving a mountain village is closed for maintenance.
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NewsStart-up announces Amsterdam to London and Paris high speed train ambitions
Source: Nikolay/Pixabay EUROPE: A proposal to launch high speed train services from Amsterdam to London and from Groningen to Paris has been announced by Dutch start-up Heuro, while Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson is also reported to be looking at competing with Eurostar on cross-Channel routes. ...
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NewsCentre-Val-de-Loire fleet modernisation supports increase in train services
FRANCE: The Centre-Val-de-Loire région has funded a €145m firm order for a further seven Alstom Omneo Premium double-deck electric multiple-units.
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NewsFreiberg – Holzhau operating contract awarded
GERMANY: Mittelsachsen transport authority VMS has awarded incumbent Freiberger Eisenbahn a new contact to continue to operate passenger services RB82 from Freiberg to Holzhau. The contract with Transdev subsidiary FEG runs from June 2024 to December 2036 and will include efforts to increase tourist traffic ...
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NewsBicycle and ski van added to Bulgarian narrow gauge trains
BULGARIA: National railway BDZ now offers bicycle and ski vans on the 760 mm line between Septemvri and Dobrinishte. Two vans are available on weekends from November 4. They have been converted from parcels vans, and are fitted with racks for bicycles ...
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NewsVilnius – Riga passenger train to launch in December
EUROPE: Lithuanian passenger operator LTG Link expects to launch a through service from Vilnius to Riga in Latvia in December, filling a gap in the European passenger rail network. A track access agreement has been signed with the Latvian infrastructure manager, Latvian speaking drivers have been ...
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Rail Business UKProcess of appointing next Elizabeth Line operator gets underway
UK: Transport for London has begun the process of appointing a contractor to operate Elizabeth Line services after the current concession held by MTR Corp expires on May 25 2025. The next contract is expected to be for an initial period of seven years, with an ...