South Coast Rail commuter services launched
USA: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and operator Keolis Commuter Services have launched passenger services on Phase 1 of the South Coast Rail project, providing Fall River and New Bedford with trains to Boston for the first time in more than 65 years.
Momentum builds behind Gdańsk suburban rail expansion
POLAND: A 7·5 km southwestern extension of the SKM suburban service that links Gdańsk with Wejherowo via Gdynia has received environmental permit.
Advanced EMUs refresh the Tobu fleet
JAPAN: Tobu Railway has put its first Series 80000 EMU into revenue service on the Urban Park Line.
Clear answer to NJ Transit’s cloudy window problem
USA: NJ Transit has worked with the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure & Transportation to asses damage to the polycarbonate coating on rolling stock windows caused by acid rain, heat and ultraviolet rays.
Coaster double-deck coaches unveiled
USA: California’s North County Transit District unveiled new Alstom double-deck push-pull coaches as part of celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of its Coaster passenger service between Oceanside and San Diego.
Passenger trains return to Porto freight line
PORTUGAL: Suburban services in the Matosinhos district of Porto has been enhanced with the partial reopening of the Leixões line to passengers after a hiatus of 14 years.
Morocco orders high speed, inter-city and suburban trains
MOROCCO: National railway ONCF has selected three manufacturers to supply up to 168 high speed, inter-city and suburban trainsets worth up to 29bn dirhams.
DB seeks to order standardised S-Bahn fleets
GERMANY: DB Regio has called tenders for framework contracts to supply electric multiple-units to replace life-expired fleets used on S-Bahn services in the Rhein-Main, Stuttgart and München areas.
Hitachi to supply telecoms and information systems for Lisboa’s Cascais Line
PORTUGAL: Infrastructure manager Infraestruturas de Portugal has awarded Hitachi Rail and its partners SISINT and Conecticabo contracts to modernise telecoms and passenger information systems on Lisboa’s Cascais Line.
UK: The Welsh Valley Lines are going green
Development of the South Wales Metro project around Cardiff is progressing apace, and the start of electric operation marks a significant milestone in the programme, as Chris Howe explains.
Praha cross-city rail tunnel plans firm up
CZECH REPUBLIC: The Ministry of Transport has selected a preferred design option for two railway tunnels to be built under Praha with a total length of 10·6 km.
Boston operator launches battery train procurement
USA: Keolis Commuter Services has issued a request for proposals for the supply of seven battery-electric multiple-units for use on Boston’s Fairmount Line from 2028. It is also seeking proposals to finance the order under a leasing agreement.
Woojin starts production of Korail suburban EMU design
SOUTH KOREA: Woojin Industrial Systems begun production of a new design of electric multiple-unit for use by Korea Railroad Corp.
Adelaide train services return to the public sector
AUSTRALIA: The government of South Australia has taken the operation of suburban passenger train services in Adelaide back into the public sector, ending the contract with Keolis Downer. Tram operations are to follow.
Tunis suburban rail Line D opens
TUNISIA: Line D of the Tunis Réseau Ferroviaire Rapide suburban rail network was launched on January 25, with 10 000 passengers carried on the first day.