Passenger rail news – Page 92
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NewsPrasa formally opens Western Cape control complex
SOUTH AFRICA: Prasa has formally inaugurated its R2∙8bn Rail Management & Train Control Centre at Bellevue in Cape Town, as part of its programme to modernise its signalling and infrastructure, including adoption of ETCS tailored to local conditions.
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NewsEuropean Commission says České Dráhy may have engaged in predatory pricing
CZECH REPUBLIC: The European Commission has reached a preliminary view that incumbent state passenger operator České Dráhy may have engaged in predatory pricing in breach of EU rules on the Praha – Ostrava route in 2011-19.
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NewsElron selects Škoda to supply EMUs for Tallinn – Tartu route
ESTONIA: Passenger operator Elron has selected Škoda Vagonka as the winner of a contract to supply six dual-system electric multiple-units for use on the Tallinn – Tartu route from the end of 2024.
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NewsShorter N700S to serve Nagasaki
JAPAN: JR Kyushu is to introduce a six-car derivative of the N700S high speed train family for use on the isolated Kyushu Shinkansen branch from Takeo Onsen to Nagasaki, which is scheduled to open in 2022.
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NewsSpanish high speed network extended towards Galicia
SPAIN: A 110∙8 km section of the Madrid to Galicia high speed line between Zamora, Puebla de Sanabria and Pedralba de la Pradería was inaugurated by ADIF on October 26.
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NewsBerlin S-Bahn extended to BER airport
GERMANY: Berlin S-Bahn services were extended to the new Berlin Brandenburg International airport on October 26, in preparation for the start of full operations at the end of the month.
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In depthComment: Realism amid the romance
While the recent resurgence in sleeping car services in Europe has been rightly lauded, Managing Editor Nick Kingsley argues that policymakers must be realistic in accepting that overnight trains alone cannot deliver the modal shift to rail which will be necessary to meet climate goals.
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Rail Business UKWales & Borders rail operations to transfer to public control with new role for KeolisAmey
UK: Plans to bring Wales & Borders passenger services under public management have been announced by the Welsh Government, along with a new partnership which would see Transport for Wales continue to work with Keolis and Amey.
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NewsCRRC unveils gauge-changing high speed train
CHINA: State-owned rolling stock manufacturer CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles has unveiled a prototype gauge-changing high speed train intended for international operation.
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NewsCP orders 1 668 mm gauge electric and bi-mode multiple-units
PORTUGAL: National operator CP has awarded Stadler its first contract to supply 1 668 mm gauge versions of its Flirt regional multiple-unit family for use on the Iberian Peninsula.
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Rail Business UKNational Rail Contracts to succeed ERMAs as cost cutting envisaged
UK: The future direction of passenger contracts is becoming clearer, as insiders confirm that successful negotiations between owning groups and the Department for Transport would see franchised operators move from Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements to new National Rail Contracts. NRCs are expected to continue until post-Covid passenger ...
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Rail Business UKScotRail’s active travel coach offers space for skis, tandems and e-bikes
UK: ScotRail has unveiled the interior of the first of the five ‘active travel’ coaches which are being produced by modifying Class 153 single-car diesel multiple-units to carry up to 20 bicycles, bulky luggage and sporting equipment such as skis. The vehicles also ...
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NewsNigerian standard gauge network takes shape
NIGERIA: The 1 435 mm gauge north-south railway linking Itakpe, Ajaokuta and Warri has been formally opened for commercial operation, following an inauguration ceremony at Agbor in Delta state.
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NewsSWEG unveils DMU ahead of timetable revision
GERMANY: One of 18 Alstom Lint 54 diesel multiple-units ordered by the Land of Baden-Württemberg’s rolling stock body SFBW for use on Hohenzollerische Landesbahn services was unveiled by locally-owned operator SWEG on October 15. The 140 km/h two-car DMU has a capacity of 150 passengers, and is ...
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Rail Business UKScientific study to improve understanding of Covid-19 transmission on trains and buses
UK: A study has been launched to develop a better understanding of the risks of Covid-19 transmission on public transport and to identify the best control measures.
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NewsFull electrification in record infrastructure spend
AUSTRIA: ‘More than €17bn is being spent on railway projects across the whole country’, said Federal Minister for Climate Protection Leonore Gewessler on October 16, announcing with Austrian Federal Railways CEO Andreas Matthä ‘the biggest railway investment package that the Republic has ever seen’.
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NewsOuigo adds digital infotainment portal
FRANCE: Passengers travelling on Ouigo low-cost high speed services between Paris and Lyon are now able to access a wide range of information and entertainment options thanks to a partnership between the operator and digital services company Moment.
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NewsAmsterdam – Wien sleeper train testing
NETHERLANDS: Trial running has been completed for the operation of Nightjet sleeper trains between Amsterdam and Wien from the December timetable change, when Amsterdam will rejoin the network of European overnight trains for the first time since 2016. Following a tender, Dutch national passenger operator NS has ...
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NewsLNVG awards Niedersachsen Mitte diesel operating contract
GERMANY: Niedersachsen transport authority LNVG has awarded DB Regio a contract to operate a bundle of local passenger services on non-electrified routes for eight years from December 2021. The Niedersachsen Mitte contract combines the previous Heidekreuz contract, held by Erixx and covering services RB37 Bremen Hbf – ...
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NewsLong-distance fleet renewal recommended
NORWAY: Working with leasing company Norske Tog and infrastructure manager Bane NOR, the national railway directorate has recommended the purchase of a single type of passenger train to replace the country’s entire long-distance fleet over the next decade.