Control centre opening marks latest stage in Paris RER modernisation
FRANCE: Paris transport operator RATP and national railway SNCF have transferred the management of RER Line A to a new control centre.
Southeastern announces shortlist to supply ‘modern trains for a modern network’
UK: Southeastern has shortlisted five bidders for a contract to supply a fleet of 750 V DC third rail electric multiple-units for use on its ‘Metro’ network of suburban services in southeast London and Kent.
Prasa reports completion of resignalling schemes
SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has resignalled six suburban rail lines across the country, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga reported on April 24.
Alberta to develop passenger rail master plan
CANADA: The government of Alberta has allocated C$9m for the development of a Passenger Rail Master Plan as a foundation for the development of commuter and regional services to meet the needs of the growing population.
Train windows become information screens
SOUTH KOREA: An eight-car trainset operating on Seoul Great Train Express Line A has been equipped with 55 inch Transparent OLED displays which act as both windows and information screens.
Ivolga 4·0 EMU enters service
RUSSIA: Transmashholding’s Ivolga 4·0 electric multiple-units were put into service on Moskva Central Diameter Line D4 with a ceremony on May 2.
Paris RER Line E reaches Nanterre
FRANCE: An 8 km largely underground extension of Paris RER Line E from Magenta-Gare du Nord to Nanterre-La Folie (Hauts de Seine) has opened.
First battery-electric train for Dublin’s DART+ network unveiled
IRELAND: The first battery-electric multiple-unit for the DART+ programme to enhance commuter train services around Dublin has been unveiled at Alstom’s Katowice factory in Poland.
Klang Valley signalling contract awarded
MALAYSIA: Dhaya Maju Infrastructure (Asia) has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply signalling for the Klang Valley Double Track Phase 2 project.
Siemens to upgrade København S-bane for driverless operation
DENMARK: Siemens Mobility has been awarded a €270m contract to equip the 170 km S-bane network in København for GoA4 unattended operations.
Knorr-Bremse enters signalling market with North American acquisition
NORTH AMERICA: Knorr-Bremse announced on April 19 that it had agreed to buy Alstom’s North American conventional signalling business, with a deal that is expected to be formally concluded ‘in summer 2024’.
Stadler’s Spanish suburban EMUs on test
SPAIN: The first of 44 double-deck EMUs which Stadler is supplying to RENFE are now being tested at the manufacturer’s plant at Albuixech near València.
Paris Line C investment plan outlined
FRANCE: Paris regional transport authority Ile-de-France-Mobilités has set out revised plans to develop RER Line C, one of the busiest and most operationally challenging in the conurbation.
Prasa restores more suburban rail services
SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has restarted its Metrorail suburban rail services on five sections of the networks in the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.
Cubic to upgrade ticketing in the Twin Cities
USA: Metro Transit has awarded Cubic Transportation Systems a contract to upgrade the fare payment system in Minneapolis-St Paul to enable the use of contactless bank cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Spain: Plan de Cercanías promises an end to inaction
Over the past three decades, much of Spain’s rail investment has been channelled into its expanding high speed network. Government plans now envisage a substantial boost for suburban services which account for 90% of all ridership. Mike Bent investigates.
Two prequalify for København automation Supporting Systems contract
DENMARK: Two suppliers have prequalified for the contract to provide Supporting Systems for the automation of København’s S-tog suburban rail services.
First C-Series EMU enters service in Perth
AUSTRALIA: The first Alstom C-Series electric multiple-unit has entered service on the Perth suburban network’s Joondalup and Mandurah lines. More than 10 000 people entered a competition to win around 150 tickets for the inaugural ride on April 7, ahead of start of regular operation the following day.
Burnham urges rail sector to accelerate integration into Manchester’s Bee Network
UK: Greater Manchester Metro Mayor Andy Burnham has pledged to accelerate integration of local rail services into the nascent Bee Network of public transport provision if he is re-elected on May 2.
Manila passenger services suspended to accelerate commuter rail construction
PHILIPPINES: March 27 marked the last operation of passenger services for five years in the Manila metropolitan area in order to accelerate construction of the North-South Commuter Railway.