News – Page 50
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NewsEstonian rail freight operator prepares for privatisation
ESTONIA: A strategy to privatise national rail freight operator Operail was backed by the cabinet on February 15. The government had instructed Operail to prepare plans for a sale last autumn. ‘Rail transport is a volume business where small quantities and short journeys do not pay ...
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In depthChina: Water Rabbit delivers network growth
More than 3 500 km of new railway was opened in China during 2023, expanding the national network to almost 160 000 route-km. Toma Bačić reviews recent developments.
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NewsSNCB unveils independently accessible coach
BELGIUM: National operator SNCB has unveiled the first of 130 double-deck coaches to facilitate wheelchair users travelling without assistance.
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Metro Report InternationalHydrogen tram development project underway
GERMANY: The Hydrogen Tram for Next Generation project has been launched to develop a fuel cell-powered vehicle which would enable services to be extended into new areas and tram-train routes created without the need for electrification. The HyTraGen research project is led by Hörmann Vehicle Engineering. ...
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In depthHigh Speed: FRA grant kick-starts Brightline West
Construction of a high speed inter-city passenger railway in the congested corridor between Las Vegas and Southern California is expected to get underway this year, following the approval of federal funding for the Brightline West project. Dave Lustig investigates.
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NewsLithuanian rail operator pilots ‘competitive green logistics’ in the three Baltic States
EUROPE: Lithuania’s LTG Cargo has operated a pilot freight train through Latvia to Valga, the first station in Estonia. On February 23 CEO Eglė Šimė said LTG Cargo plans to start offering ‘competitive green logistics services’ in the three countries in the near future, as a ...
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NewsPop EMU delivered to Ferrovie del Gargano
ITALY: Foggia local train operator Ferrovie del Gargano has taken delivery of the first of four three-car Pop electric multiple-units. The 3 kV DC Alstom Coradia Stream ETR103 EMUs are to be used on Foggia – San Severo – Rodi – Peschici Calenella and Foggia – ...
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NewsMRS Logística orders Wabtec locomotives
BRAZIL: MRS Logística has ordered 30 Wabtec ES44ACi Evolution Series diesel locomotives as part of its fleet renewal strategy. The deal announced on February 21 is valued at around R$500m, with the first deliveries scheduled for this year. Features will include lower emissions than the predecessor ...
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NewsChicago’s Metra thinks outside the box with Stadler battery train order
USA: Chicago commuter agency Metra has awarded Stadler a contract to supply eight battery multiple-units. The $154m deal announced on February 21 includes staff training and spare parts. The first of the units are expected to be delivered from Stadler’s Salt Lake City plant in 2027-28. ...
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NewsMetrans acquires Adria Rail
EUROPE: The Metrans rail freight subsidiary of Hamburger Hafen & Logistik has expanded in southeast Europe with the acquisition of 100% of Adria Rail Group. Adria Rail offers rail services from Serbia and Croatia, and manages an inland terminal in Indija near Beograd which has daily ...
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NewsStrait of Messina bridge design approved
ITALY: The final design for a long-proposed rail and road bridge to link Sicily with the mainland has been approved by the board of project company Stretto di Messina. The company’s work was suspended for 10 years until it was reconstituted by the government in March ...
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Rail Business UKRail training academy to develop local skills
UK: The Transport, Rail & Infrastructure Academy developed by City of Wolverhampton College and National Infrastructure Solutions was officially opened by Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street on February 20. The academy at the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation’s Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre ...
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NewsSlovakian Kiss EMUs enter service
SLOVAKIA: National operator ZSSK has put the first of its Stadler Kiss double-deck electric multiple-units into passenger service. ‘Today is an important milestone’, State Secretary at the Ministry of Transport Denisa Žiláková said at the launch at Nové Zámky station on February 15. ’For the first ...
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NewsEuropean Commission investigates whether CRRC received market-distorting subsidy
BULGARIA: The European Commission has launched an in-depth investigation into whether a subsidiary of Chinese state-owned rolling stock group CRRC received unfair subsidy enabling it to submit a low bid for a contract. The investigation announced on February 16 is the first under the Foreign Subsidies ...
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Rail Business UKPorterbrook takes stake in Brodie Engineering
UK: Rolling stock leasing and asset management company Porterbrook has agreed to take a 49% stake in Brodie Engineering, which specialises in the heavy maintenance, refurbishment and overhaul of passenger and freight vehicles. Brodie Engineering was established in 1996 and now has two sites in Kilmarnock, ...
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Rail Business UKUK government publishes Draft Rail Reform Bill
UK: The government has published its Draft Rail Reform Bill, to give parliamentarians and the industry an opportunity to provide feedback. Legislation is needed to implement the government’s rail reform proposals, including the creation of Great British Railways. However, a bill is unlikely to pass before ...
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NewsBoard of Latvian operator quits over problems with new trains
LATVIA: The supervisory board of national passenger operator Pasažieru Vilciens, now branded Vivi, resigned at the end of January, saying they lacked the powers needed to address disruption resulting from faults with new trains. Sandis Šteins had headed the board since 2016, and resigned along with ...
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NewsRailpool signs 250-loco framework agreement
EUROPE: Leasing company Railpool and Siemens Mobility have signed a framework agreement for the supply of up to 250 Vectron locomotives. This covers variants that can operate in up to 16 countries and on north-south and east-west corridors in Europe. Depending on the variant, the 6·4 ...