News – Page 63
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Rail Business UKTrain ticket retailers told to make booking fees clearer
UK: The Office of Rail & Road has written to seven online ticket retailers expressing concerns about ‘drip pricing’, when customers are shown an initial price with additional fees revealed later in the sales process. Thee are more than 40 retailers selling rail tickets online, split ...
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NewsÖBB introduces Siemens Nightjet fleet as Paris – Berlin sleeper train revived
EUROPE: Austrian Federal Railways launched its next-generation fleet of Nightjet overnight trains into service on December 10 when the first trains formed of new Siemens Mobility rolling stock ran on the Wien/Innsbruck – Hamburg route. The two portions, each comprising a single push-pull trainset, were joined ...
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NewsOmniTRAX to operate West Virginia’s South Branch Valley Railroad
USA: On December 1 OmniTRAX took over operational management of the South Branch Valley Railroad under an agreement with West Virginia Department of Transportation. The 85 km SBVR between Petersburg and Green Spring is a former branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co serving the ...
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Metro Report InternationalAlstom invests in Brazil amid strong outlook for South American metro sector
BRAZIL: Alstom is about to start producing metro trainsets for São Paulo Line 6 at its Taubaté factory as the company invests to support growing rail markets in South America.
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In depthJapan: Attracting traffic to rural lines
Imaginative initiatives are helping to ensure the survival of lightly used railways in rural Japan. Mike Bent reports.
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NewsWestern section of Koralmbahn opens in southern Austria
AUSTRIA: The 53 km western section of the Koralmbahn in southwest Austria opened with the timetable change on December 10.
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NewsCanadian National to acquire Iowa Northern Railway
USA: Canadian National has signed an agreement to acquire Iowa Northern Railway, an independent 440 track-km Class III short line led by the Sabin family which connects with CN’s US network as well as with CPKC and Union Pacific routes. IANR will be transferred to an ...
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Rail Business UKLong-term and overseas opportunities for rail apprentices
UK: The Transpennine Route Upgrade programme is ‘an investment in people’ and ‘it really is important that these projects leave a legacy of skills’, Rail Minister Huw Merriman said when he announced the latest tranche of funding. Speaking on December 4, Merriman said ‘if you look ...
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In depthResilient Infrastructure: Using machine learning to inspect overhead wires
Swedish infrastructure manager Trafikverket and maintenance contractor Infranord are using machine learning technology to monitor the condition of electrification equipment across the country.
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NewsAlbania to Kosovo railway study commissioned
EUROPE: Albanian national railway HSH has selected a consortium of ILF Consulting Engineers Austria and Abkons to conduct a 14-month feasibility study for the construction of a rail link to Kosovo. Two options will be considered for the Albanian part of the route, branching from the ...
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NewsTrain ordered for children’s railway revival
KAZAKHSTAN: Russia’s Kambarka Engineering Works is to supply a 750 mm gauge diesel locomotive and three coaches for the revival of the children’s railway in Semey.
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NewsUS government allocates $8·2bn to inter-city rail initiatives
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration has allocated a total of $8·2bn of Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail programme 2022-26 funding to 10 projects, and selected 69 proposals for further development. Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail funding State Project Maximum ...
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In depthResilient Infrastructure: Protecting Japan’s national network from earthquakes
The Railway Technical Research Institute is striving to find ways of making Japan’s railways safer and more secure against damage from earthquakes.
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NewsHiivr Rail autonomous wagon unveiled in Western Australia
AUSTRALIA: Western Australia rail infrastructure concessionaire Arc Infrastructure and US technology partner Parallel Systems have unveiled a prototype autonomous container wagon following three years of development. The battery-powered wagon branded Hiivr Rail was demonstrated to government and industry stakeholders at the Kenwick Freight Rail Facility in ...
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NewsKazakhstan begins work on additional rail link to Uzbekistan
KAZAKHSTAN: Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov has formally launched construction of a 152 km rail link to Uzbekistan, participating in the November 27 ceremony by teleconference. The line is intended to contribute to the development of the Turkestan region by connecting it to the main Kazakh rail ...
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Rail Business UKRevolution Very Light Rail vehicles ordered for passenger trials
UK: Leasing company Eversholt Rail has awarded Transport Design International contracts to build three pre-series battery-powered Revolution Very Light Rail railcars for trial passenger operation. This follows successful tests with a diesel-battery hybrid RVLR demonstrator vehicle at Ironbridge over the past two years. RVLR is being ...
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NewsUIC launches Middle East Regional Competence Hub
UAE: The International Union of Railways’ Middle East Regional Competence Hub was officially launched at the University of Birmingham’s Dubai campus during the COP28 climate change conference. UIC is establishing Regional Competence Hubs around the world to bridge the gap between academic and professional knowledge and ...
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In depthComment: Freight’s miserable year
According to UIRR, the European rail freight industry is facing a downturn. Our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley highlights the critical importance of intermodal transport for the future of rail freight and the need for policy support to decarbonise global supply chains.