Passenger rail news – Page 137
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NewsISR launches ’Akko – Karmi’el passenger services
ISRAEL: Regular passenger trains began running to the Galilean city of Karmi’el on September 20, with the start of revenue operation on ISR’s 23 km Akko – Karmi’el branch. The double-track branch diverges from the Haifa – Nahariya line between ’Akko and Kiryat Motzkin. Built by Israel Roads Ltd at ...
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NewsČD orders RegioPanter EMUs
CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator ČD has ordered nine Škoda Vagónka Class 650 RegioPanter 3 kV DC/25 kV AC electric multiple-units for delivery by December 2018. This will take ČD fleet of RegioPanter Class 440, 640 and 650 EMUs to 37. ČD intends to deploy the latest batch of EMUs ...
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NewsVirgin Trains launches Seatfrog first class upgrade auction app
UK: In what the inter-city operator claims is a ‘a world first for rail passengers’, Virgin Trains East Coast has worked with travel technology company Seatfrog to launch an iOS and Android app which enables passengers to upgrade standard class tickets to first class by placing bids in an auction ...
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NewsCoach order and new line agreement signed
BANGLADESH: A contract for Indonesian company PT Inka to supply Bangladesh Railways with 200 coaches was signed on September 14, and was followed two days later by the finalisation of a joint venture agreement for the construction of a new line. The 5·8bn taka coach contract is being financed by ...
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NewsHydrogen-powered double-deck train design concepts wanted
CANADA: Greater Toronto transport agency Metrolinx has issued a request for proposals seeking design concepts showing how hydrogen fuel cells could be integrated into double-deck electric multiple-units.Metrolinx plans to commission a number of rolling stock manufacturers to prepare designs and demonstrate the impact that incorporating hydrogen fuel cells into ...
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NewsSwiss long-distance concession bids go in
SWITZERLAND: Swiss Federal Railways and regional operator BLS have submitted separate bids to the Federal Transport Office to run long-distance passenger services under the concession which is due to come into effect from December. The SBB bid includes joint operations with SOB to be managed under a long-term co-operation agreement. ...
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NewsAustrian court halts ÖBB coach tender
AUSTRIA: Plans to replace ÖBB’s rolling stock used on daytime inter-city services to Italy and to update its overnight fleet with new trains are in doubt after Austria’s Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht) ruled that the tender process should be stopped. The state-owned operator requires new stock to replace existing EuroCity ...
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NewsKoleje Śląskie launches Pesa's Elf2 EMU
POLAND: The first of a fleet of Elf2 electric-multiple units being built for Koleje Śląskie by Pesa was officially launched in Katowice on September 13. The Elf2 is an updated version of the manufacturer’s Elf family, of which 77 sets have been built for various operators since 2010. Pesa says ...
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NewsSuburban EMU mock-up on display
RUSSIA: Transmashholding presented a full-size mock-up of its planned Class EP2TV suburban electric multiple-unit at the Expo 1520 trade fair at Shcherbinka. TMH General Director Kirill Lipa said the new EMU was designed for high traffic routes in European Russia and the Urals. It is to be produced by TMH’s ...
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NewsFS completes acquisition of Greek national operator Trainose
GREECE: Italian state railway group Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane completed its acquisition of Greek national train operator Trainose on September 14, when the €45m transaction was officially closed during an Italy-Greece bilateral summit. Privatisation agency Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund had named FS as preferred bidder on July 14 2016. ...
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NewsIndian high speed rail project launched by Prime Ministers
INDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe attended a groundbreaking ceremony at Sabarmarti in Ahmedabad on September 14 to officially launch India’s first high speed rail project. The planned 508 km Mumbai – Ahmedabad line is to use Japanese Shinkansen technology including 1 435 mm standard ...
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NewsWestern Australia budget backs rail growth
AUSTRALIA: The Western Australian government has allocated A$1·4bn for rail investment as part of its 2017-18 budget announced on September 8. The bulk of the money is destined for the Metronet programme to expand and upgrade the Perth suburban rail network, over the next four years. This includes federal funding ...
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NewsGreater Anglia reveals interior of Aventra commuter train fleet
UK: Greater Anglia has unveiled a full-size mock-up of the interior of the Aventra electric multiple-units ordered from Bombardier Transportation for entry into service on the East Anglia franchise in 2019-20. Bombardier is to supply 89 five-car and 22 ten-car 25 kV 50 Hz EMUs for Greater Anglia commuter ...
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NewsAmtrak begins Amfleet I refurbishment programme
USA: Amtrak has announced the start of work to refurbish its Amfleet I hauled coaches, which are widely used on its Northeast Corridor and Midwest inter-city services. The $16m refurbishment and overhaul programme covers more than 450 vehicles, with completion planned for mid-2018. A phased approach is ...
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NewsSFM Torino regional services extended into France
EUROPE: Trenitalia-operated regional trains reached the French alpine town of Modane on September 10 for the first time in a decade in what the regional authorities in both France and Italy hope will mark the start of a renaissance in cross-border rail provision.Initially, regional trains on route SFM3 between Torino ...
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NewsMelbourne suburban rail operating contract awarded
AUSTRALIA: Metro Trains Melbourne is to continue to operate and maintain the city's suburban rail network, Victoria's Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan announced on September 12. MTM is a joint venture of MTR Corp (60%), John Holland Group (20%) and UGL Rail Services (20%). It has operated the 390 ...
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NewsArriva secures open access paths in Poland
POLAND: Regulator UTK has granted Arriva’s Polish subsidiary train paths for the operation of open access passenger services on several routes. Arriva RP has secured paths until December 11 2021 for the operation of its existing summer-only seasonal service from Bydgoszcz Główna to Hel and a shuttle service along the ...
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NewsTwo-car EMU for lightly-used lines
RUSSIA: A two-car version of the Class EP2D electric multiple-unit family which is intended for lightly-used lines electrified at 3 kV DC was exhibited by Transmashholding’s Demikhovsky Engineering Plant at the Expo 1520 trade fair in Shcherbinka. DMZ currently produces EP2D EMUs in four-car and 11-car configurations, with a ...
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NewsVirginia main line upgrading moves forward
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration announced on September 8 the completion of a Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a capacity and speed enhancement programme on the 197 km corridor running south from Washington DC to Richmond, Virginia.The railway is owned by Class I freight railroad CSX, but it ...
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NewsTracklaying complete on Harbin – Jiamusi fast line
CHINA: Contractors have completed tracklaying on the 343 km Harbin – Jiamusi high speed line in Helliongjang province. Designed for trains to run at 200 km/h, the railway is expected to open for commercial traffic in June 2018. With 14 stations including Yilan, Demoli, Fangzheng and Binxian, the line will ...