Passenger rail news – Page 6
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NewsSlow tourism train operator launches first service
ITALY: FS Group’s recently formed tourist train business FS Treni Turistici Italiani has launched its first service. Branded Espresso Cadore, the overnight service between Roma Termini and Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina will run every Friday night until mid-February. On arrival, a connecting bus takes passengers to Cortina ...
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Rail Business UKInformation and journey planning screens installed
UK: East Midlands Railway is undertaking a £1m project with Infotec and Thales to install 166 customer information screens across its network. These will show arrival, departure, live journey, station and local information, details of local events and safety notices. Passengers will also be able to ...
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NewsDeutsche Bahn’s financial recovery remains elusive
GERMANY: Rail services in Germany were badly disrupted by industrial action over pay by the train drivers’ trade union GD during the week commencing January 8. On January 10 Deutsche Bahn said that about 20% of long-distance passenger services were running, with the number of regional ...
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Rail Business UKSpring time for train seats
UK: Mattress and furniture spring manufacturer Spinks has been awarded a £250 000 research contract to bring its EcoSeat glue-free pocket microcoil technology to the rail seating market. The funding has been awarded under the Department for Transport and Innovate UK’s First of a Kind programme. ...
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NewsEuropean Commission approves I Squared’s acquisition of Arriva
EUROPE: I Squared Capital Advisors’ acquisition of sole control of Arriva plc from Deutsche Bahn has been approved by the European Commission.
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NewsService increase included in Bayern operating contract award
GERMANY: Bayern railway agency BEG has awarded incumbent DB Regio the next tendered contract to operate Werdenfels passenger services. This will include expansion of the fleet and additional services to fill gaps in the current timetable. The Werdenfels 2028+ contract running from December 2027 to December ...
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Rail Business UKFirstGroup plans London – Sheffield open access train service
UK: FirstGroup has announced plans to launch an open access passenger train service between London and Sheffield. The first phase of an application was submitted to industry regulator the Office of Rail & Road on January 5. Consultation will follow, along with discussions with Network Rail ...
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NewsCompetition and investment promised in Grand Est 10-year TER contract
FRANCE: National operator SNCF and the Grand Est région have signed an ‘ambitious and innovative’ 10-year agreement covering the development of local and regional rail services in and around Strasbourg.
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NewsNS signs contract to operate core passenger train services to 2033
NETHERLANDS: The Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management and national incumbent operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen have signed a public service operating contract covering the designated core passenger rail network, ahead of the EU deadline for direct awards. The Hoofdrailnet concession agreement runs from January 1 2025 to ...
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NewsFirst section of Mexico’s Trans-Isthmus Railway opens
MEXICO: The newly rebuilt ‘Line Z’ of the Interoceanic Railway of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec was inaugurated on December 22.
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Metro Report International‘Truly unique’ history-inspired tramway to be built in Saudi Arabia
SAUDI ARABIA: The Royal Commission for AlUla has awarded Alstom a €500m contract to supply a ‘truly unique’ tramway inspired by heritage including the historic Hedjaz Railway. Alstom said the 22·4 km line would be the world’s longest catenary-free tramway, and will ‘encapsulate richness, history and ...
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NewsAmtrak begins procurement to renew Long Distance train fleet
USA: Amtrak has issued a request for proposals for a ‘once-in-a-generation, multi-billion-dollar’ procurement of double-deck rolling stock to replace its Long Distance fleet. The RFP was informed by the responses to a request for information issued in December 2022. Amtrak is soliciting offers from established companies ...
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NewsAlstom wins Victoria fleet maintenance contract
AUSTRALIA: Alstom has won a €900m contract to maintain the VLocity and Classic regional train fleets in Victoria. The VLocity diesel multiple-units which were built at Alstom’s Dandenong plant will be maintained alongside the Classic fleet at sites in West Melbourne, South Dynon and Ballarat East. ...
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Rail Business UKConverting passenger information into sign language
UK: Signapse is aiming to improve access to real-time passenger information by using AI to translate messages at stations and on trains into British Sign Language. The specialist technology company is working with Network Rail, South Western Railway and Whoosh Media on the project, which has ...
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NewsSoftware expands ticket vending machine capabilities
ITALY: Trenord is the first customer to deploy a ticket machine software platform which Conduent Transportation has developed to provide a user experience similar to a web app and to enable the future sale of new products. The ticket machines accept payment by digital payment apps, ...
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NewsChinese task force to draw-up TAZARA revitalisation plan
AFRICA: China Civil & Engineering and Construction Corp has sent a task force to undertake a comprehensive business and technical inspection of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, having being appointed to negotiate a potential deal for a Chinese operator to revitalise the line which was built with Chinese ...
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NewsCórdoba regional train service expanded
ARGENTINA: Tren de las Sierras regional services in the northern city of Córdoba have been expanded to serve Capilla del Monte, following the completion of renovation work on a 34 km section of the metre-gauge line from Valle Hermoso. Work to rebuild the single-track route included ...
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NewsCoaches enter service in Indonesia
INDONESIA: Argo Dwipangga locomotive-hauled coaches manufactured by local company PT Inka entered service between Gambir station in Jakarta and Solo Balapan in central Java on December 13. The trainset is formed of seven executive class and three luxury class coaches, one dining car and one generator ...
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NewsPrasa resumes long-distance services after two years
SOUTH AFRICA: Prasa restarted Shosholoza Meyl long-distance passenger services on the Johannesburg – Durban and Johannesburg – Cape Town routes on December 7.
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NewsMore high speed sets in ONCF rolling stock order
MOROCCO: National operator ONCF has called tenders for a fleet of 168 trainsets worth a total of 16bn dirhams. Expressions of interest had been sought in September 2022, generating 10 responses. The contract which is due to be signed by July 31 2024 is in three ...