Passenger rail news – Page 103
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News
CRRC tests ‘variable configuration’ EMU
CHINA: CRRC Tangshan has completed pre-delivery testing of a variable configuration electric multiple-unit, which is designed to be formed of two power cars and up to 16 single or double-deck coaches. The train has been designed to enable operators to configure train lengths in response to changes in passenger demand, ...
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News
Gas fuelled railcar pilot project planned
ITALY: A memorandum of understanding setting out plans to test the conversion of diesel railcars to run on natural gas has been signed by national railway FS Group, rolling stock manufacturer Hitachi Rail Italy and gas supply infrastructure company Snam. Trenitalia plans to provide one or two ALn668 or ALn663 ...
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News
Sweden to fund international night trains
SWEDEN: Overnight trains connecting Sweden with several international European destinations are to be introduced as part of government proposals to facilitate environmentally-friendly transport. Infrastructure Minister Tomas Eneroth announced on March 31 that the Social Democratic, Centre and Green parties had reached agreement to include a SKr50m framework grant in the ...
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News
New Generation Rollingstock accessibility modification contract awarded
AUSTRALIA: The government of Queensland has awarded Bombardier Transportation a A$361m contract to undertake modifications to improve the accessibility of the 75 electric multiple-units which are being introduced to the southeast Queensland rail network under the New Generation Rollingstock programme. The modified trains are expected to re-enter service from 2020 ...
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Rail Business UK
First look inside new Caledonian Sleeper trains
UK: London to Scotland overnight train operator Caledonian Sleeper has unveiled the interiors of its new coaches, which are being built by CAF in northern Spain. Entry into service had originally been scheduled for April 2018 but is now expected by the end of May. The Lowlander route between London ...
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Rail Business UK
Talgo committed to UK expansion strategy
UK: Planning for the development of a rolling stock manufacturing plant in Scotland and a research facility in northern England is continuing ‘at full pace’, Talgo Group President Carlos de Palacio Oriol told Railway Gazette in Madrid on April 1. Pointing out that Talgo’s two Spanish plants at Las Matas ...
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News
Łódź suburban EMUs to be lengthened
POLAND: Łódź suburban operator Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna has signed an agreement with Stadler Polska to lengthen 10 of its Flirt electric multiple-units. The 68·5m złoty contract announced on April 2 includes an extension of Stadler’s maintenance activities until 2029. Each of the two-car EMUs will gain a 16 m ...
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News
INPP to take full control of BeNEX
GERMANY: UK-listed infrastructure investment group International Public Partnerships Ltd is to acquire joint venture partner Hamburger Hochbahn AG’s 51% stake in German rail and bus operator BeNEX GmbH. The signing of the purchase agreement was announced on April 1, and financial close is expected before the end of June 2019. ...
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News
ČD orders push-pull sets and EMUs
CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator ČD has awarded a consortium of Škoda Transportation and Škoda Vagonka a KC6bn eight-year framework contract for the supply of up to 50 RegioPanter electric multiple-units, with a KC3·6bn firm order for an initial 31, and a separate KC1bn firm order for five three-car sets of ...
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News
Koleje Mazowieckie orders 12 more Stadler Flirt EMUs
POLAND: Koleje Mazowieckie signed a 405m złoty contract with Stadler Polska for the supply of 12 five-car Flirt electric multiple-units on March 28. The contract includes maintenance, repair kits and staff training. Stadler will supply the 160 km/h EMUs from its Siedlce factory, with the first due to enter ...
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News
Sotetsu – JR East link completed
JAPAN: Ceremonies were held in western Yokohama on March 28 to mark the completion of a new link between Sotetsu’s Sagami Railway and JR East tracks, which will allow the operation of through services from the Sagami Main Line and Izumino Line to Shinjuku station in Tokyo. Under the project, ...
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News
€600m contracts awarded as Napoli – Bari rebuilding progresses
ITALY: Infrastructure manager RFI awarded design and construction contracts worth €608m on March 29 for rebuilding of the Apice – Hirpinia section of the Napoli – Bari line. A consortium of Salini Impregilo, Astaldi, Rocksoil, Net Engineering and Alpina will undertake civil works and install railway equipment, including new electrical ...
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News
Russian double-deck EMU planned
RUSSIA: Ural Locomotives and Russian Railways have signed an agreement to develop plans for a double-deck electric multiple-unit designed for inter-regional services. A working group is to be established to produce a feasibility study and define the technical requirements, including the estimated costs of supply and maintenance under a lifecycle ...
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News
Rebuilt DMUs to operate Praha service
CZECH REPUBLIC: Last month Slovak rolling stock supplier ŽOS Zvolen delivered two Class 813/913.2 two-car diesel multiple-units which passenger operator KŽC Doprava ordered at a cost of €3m. They have been deployed since February 19 on Praha suburban line S34 from Praha-Masarykovo to Praha-Čakovice, replacing Class 810/010 railcars on the ...
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News
DB to dispose of Arriva
EUROPE: The Deutsche Bahn AG supervisory board confirmed on March 27 its intention to dispose of the company’s international operating subsidiary Arriva, Railway Gazette’s sister publication Rail Business has reported. DB’s management team has been tasked with developing options for the transaction, which could either take the shape of a ...
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News
Cape Town seeks suburban rail devolution
SOUTH AFRICA: Plans to transfer the operation of commuter services from Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa to an organisation appointed by the city council were confirmed on March 26 when the city announced that four bids had been received for a tender to provide consultancy services. ...
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News
ČD awarded long-distance operating contracts
CZECH REPUBLIC: The Ministry of Transport has announced that, following a market consultation assessment, it would award all the remaining long-distance public service obligation operating contracts directly to state incumbent ČD. Other operators had not shown sufficient interest in the contracts, which cover six express and 13 fast services and ...
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Rail Business UK
Mayor calls for TfL to replace Network Rail as infrastructure manager
UK: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called for Transport for London to replace Network Rail as the infrastructure manager for routes which are used by suburban passenger services operated under concessions awarded by TfL. The proposal forms part of TfL’s submission of its views to a review of the ...
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News
Elbe-Spree EMU order confirmed
GERMANY: Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn has placed a €300m order for Siemens Mobility to supply 21 six-car and two four-car Desiro HC partly double-deck electric multiple-units. These are to be used on services which ODEG is to operate under Lots 1 and 4 of Elbe-Spree network operating contracts awarded by Berlin-Brandenburg transport ...
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News
Salzburger Lokalbahn extension agreement signed
AUSTRIA: The federal government and the Land and city of Salzburg signed a letter of intent on March 25 to extend and upgrade the Salzburger Lokalbahn railway. The agreement was signed by federal Transport Ministger Norbert Hofer, Salzburg Land Governor Wilfried Haslauer, Land Transport Minister Stefan Schnöll and Mayor Harald ...