Passenger rail news – Page 97
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NewsPraha – Wien – Budapest train aims to undercut ‘nonsense prices’ of state operators
EUROPE: Open access operator RegioJet is to launch a twice daily Praha – Brno – Wien – Budapest service on July 31, by extending some of its existing Praha – Wien services. ‘We are coming to another route with our vision to significantly reduce the cost ...
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NewsSan Diego BiLevel order to ‘make the decision to try transit an easy one’
USA: San Diego’s North County Transit District has awarded Bombardier Transportation a $43m contract to supply a further 11 BiLevel double-deck coaches for entry into service in winter 2022-23. This will enable the Coaster commuter service to be increased to run every 30 min, and facilitate the ...
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NewsSNCB double-deckers delayed
BELGIUM: Delivery of SNCB’s double-deck Type M7 push-pull trainsets has been further delayed by the coronavirus, and will not be completed until March 2023, CEO Sophie Dutordoir has confirmed.
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NewsTalgo VI trainsets withdrawn from Amtrak Cascades service
USA: Washington State Department of Transportation has withdrawn its 1998-built Talgo VI trainsets used to operate the Amtrak Cascades services between Eugene, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, ahead of the procurement of replacement rolling stock. Withdrawal of the Talgo VIs was recommended by the National Transportation Safety ...
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NewsDeutsche Bahn orders 320 km/h Velaro derivatives
Source: DB AG/Siemens GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has announced an order for 30 inter-city trains able to run at 320 km/h. Chairman Dr Richard Lutz confirmed on July 15 that the operator had placed an order worth €1bn with Siemens Mobility for a derivative of the ICE3 ...
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NewsCER blueprint to increase rail’s role under EU Green Deal
EUROPE: A clear timescale for the decarbonisation of European transport and a greater role for rail are the key objectives of a ‘green mobility blueprint’ put forward by the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies.
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NewsRielsfera pushes back Falbalá low-cost high speed launch dates
Source: Christophe Masse SPAIN: SNCF subsidiary Rielsfera has revealed further details of its planned Falbalá low-cost high speed services, following its submission of train path requests to ADIF Alta Velocidad. The first group of services to be introduced will link Madrid with Zaragoza, Lleida and Barcelona, with ...
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NewsIndependent operators raise night train competition concerns
EUROPE: Private open access operators RegioJet and RDC have seen higher than expected demand for the overnight services they launched this month, and Snälltåget has set out plans for expansion. However, the ALLRAIL association of independent passenger operators has expressed concern that incumbent state railways may come ...
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NewsEurostar looks to cut costs with reduced hours and part-time working
EUROPE: Eurostar is looking to reduce its payroll costs through the introduction of reduced hours and more part-time working ‘wherever possible throughout 2021’, in a move which the cross-Channel high speed operator said was intended to protect jobs at a time when ‘the impact of Covid-19 has ...
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News‘Rail comeback’ could reopen 4 000 km of closed lines
GERMANY: More than 200 closed, mothballed or freight-only lines could be reopened to serve 291 towns and a population of around 3 million people, according to proposals drawn up by the Association of German Transport Companies VDV and rail lobby group Allianz pro Schiene. The two organisations ...
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NewsLithuanian Railways launches ‘patriotic’ rebranding and international expansion drive
LITHUANIA·: National railway group Lietuvos Geležinkeliai launched a new brand identity on its 101st birthday, reflecting its recent restructuring with the formation of passenger, freight and infrastructure businesses. The full name remains Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, but with the ‘new, more patriotic’ abbreviation LTG rather than LG. ...
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NewsTrenord’s first Donizetti EMU enters service in Milano
ITALY: The first of 41 Alstom Coradia Stream electric multiple-units ordered by Lombardia regional operator Trenord entered service on the Milano – Gallarate – Luino route on July 5, with free travel offered to mark the occasion. The Trenord joint venture of ...
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NewsAgreements signed to allow direct Amsterdam – London trains
EUROPE: Eurostar is set to launch direct services between Amsterdam and London later this year, following the signing on July 7 of four-country agreements covering the legal and security arrangements. A date for the start of through services has not yet been finalised, the high speed train ...
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Rail Business UKFranchise support to be extended by 18 months
UK: The government is preparing for a further 18 months of financial support for passenger train operators once the existing Emergency Measures Agreements expire on September 20, industry insiders have confirmed. A formal decision is expected to be announced by Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps ...
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NewsSecond-hand inter-city coaches arrive in Portugal as CP looks to bolster fleet
Photo: José Carlos Barbosa PORTUGAL: National operator CP has completed the purchase of 51 hauled coaches from Spanish counterpart RENFE as part of its efforts to mitigate an acute shortage of rolling stock. Initial negotiations started in February, when CP anticipated buying only 16 vehicles for ...
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NewsFrench regulators formalise co-operation ahead of market opening
FRANCE: National transport regulator ART and rail safety authority EPSF have agreed to strengthen their co-operation in preparation for opening up of the domestic rail market to competition, the two organisations announced on July 7.
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Rail Business UKSnowdon Mountain Railway takes delivery of diesel-battery locomotives
UK: The Snowdon Mountain Railway has taken delivery of two 800 mm gauge diesel-battery hybrid Abt rack locomotives ordered last year from Clayton Equipment, which specialises in the production of bespoke designs for specialist railway, metro, mining and tunnelling applications. Thanks to the hybrid drive, the ...
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NewsIndian Railways invites bids to run private passenger trains
INDIA: Confirming its intention to work with private operators to address a shortfall in passenger capacity, the Indian Railway Board issued requests for qualification on July 1 for 35-year concessions to operate private trains on the national network from 2023. IR currently operates around 13 500 ...
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Metro Report InternationalElectro-diesel tram-train order expanded to support service increase
HUNGARY: National passenger operator MÁV-Start has exercised an option for Stadler’s Valencia plant to supply a further four Citylink electro-diesel tram-trains for the route being developed to link Hódmezővásárhely with Szeged. The country’s first tram-train project aims to provide a high-quality service for daily commuters between the ...
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Rail Business UKNine factors to consider when designing future stations
UK: Design Council has published ThinkStation, a report which was commissioned by Network Rail to provide a framework for the future design of ‘local’ stations. These are defined as Network Rail categories D, E and F, the smaller stations which make up around 80% of the total. ...