Passenger rail news – Page 156
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NewsIndependent transport regulator to be established
CZECH REPUBLIC: The government has approved an act paving the way for the creation of an independent transport infrastructure access regulator Úřad pro přístup k dopravní infrastruktuře with effect from April 1 2017. ÚPDI is to have 20 to 30 staff, and will be led by a chairman appointed by ...
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NewsAFE buys Swedish railcars
URUGUAY: National railway AFE has purchased seven Fiat Y1 diesel railcars from Swedish rolling stock leasing and maintenance company NetRail. One is to be used to provide spare parts, while the others are to be deployed to improve services from Montevideo to 25 de Agosto. AFE also plans to reinstate ...
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NewsEuropean Commission investigates claims of anti-competitive rail fares
CZECH REPUBLIC: The European Commission has begun an investigation into whether national operator ČD has breached EU competition rules by charging fares below its costs with the aim of excluding competitors from the passenger market. The Commission said ČD had ‘significantly decreased’ fares on the Praha – ...
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NewsWelsh Government sets out rolling stock aspirations
UK: The Welsh Government’s key priorities for the new rolling stock which is to be procured under the Wales & Borders Operator & Development Partner contract have been set out by Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Infrastructure Ken Skates. The Welsh Government says that passengers’ perception of the quality of ...
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NewsPodkarpackie orders multiple-units
POLAND: Podkarpackie voivodship has selected Pesa to supply seven electric multiple-units and Newag to provide two diesel multiple-units. The 124·66m złoty contract for five three-car and two four-car Elf 2 EMUs units is second order for the second generation of Pesa’s Elf family. Deliveries are scheduled between June 30 ...
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NewsTransdev chooses IVU.rail software
SWEDEN: Transdev Sverige is to use IVU.rail software for service planning across all its Swedish rail operations from December. IVU.rail can be used to develop efficient timetables and rolling stock diagrams, offering automatic suggestions and incorporating configurable planning rules which take into account service intervals, track and depot capacity and ...
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NewsSouthampton – London open access service proposed
UK: Alliance Rail Holdings has started industry consultation on proposals to launch an open access passenger service on the Southampton - London Waterloo route in December 2017. Managing Director Ian Yeowart told Railway Gazette on November 8 that Alliance aims is to increase capacity on the intensively-used route and make ...
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NewsStockholm Citybanan to open in July 2017
SWEDEN: The 6 km Citybanan cross-city tunnel under Stockholm is to open for revenue service at 05.00 on July 10 2017, national infrastructure manager Trafikverket announced on November 3. Under construction since 2009, the north-south link is intended to carry the capital’s suburban services, doubling rail capacity through the ...
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NewsPlayRenfe wi-fi offers live TV on the move
SPAIN: Prior to its launch on high speed services between Madrid and Sevilla on December 5, national operator RENFE is testing from November 4 a beta version of PlayRenfe, its new on-train wi-fi platform which combines satellite and 4G. As well as internet connectivity, passengers will be able to enjoy ...
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NewsEurostar 'confident' as Amsterdam plans gather pace
EUROPE: Eurostar said it was seeing ‘signs of recovery in the trading environment’ when it announced its Quarter 3 results on November 4, with passenger numbers in the previous eight weeks increasing year-on-year. This followed a ‘challenging period’ when demand had been dampened by the Nice terrorist attack in July. ...
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NewsWest Coast Partnership franchise to include HS2 launch
UK: ‘I want to be very clear that this is a new type of franchise requiring a new kind of approach to bidding’, said Transport Minister Paul Maynard said on November 4, confirming that the franchise which is to replace the current InterCity West Coast franchise from April 2019 would ...
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NewsAir travel portal to offer Amtrak bookings
USA: Fareportal is to use SilverRail's API to sell Amtrak tickets through its CheapOAir travel portal. Fareportal ‘will be amongst the first leisure online booking platform to offer Amtrak tickets alongside airfare results', said SilverRail Chief Commercial Officer Cameron Jones on October 26. 'This partnership helps raise the profile of ...
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Metro Report InternationalLast-mile app integrates Amtrak, Uber and buses
USA: North Carolina Department of Transportation and technology company TransLoc have launched a three-month pilot of a door-to-door journey planning app which highlights options to use Uber and local public transport services to access nine stations on Amtrak’s Piedmont and Carolinian routes. Users enter their preferred station into the Rider ...
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News£60m Hull Trains electro-diesel train deal signed
UK: Contracts worth £60m for Hitachi Rail Europe to supply and maintain five AT300 five-car electro-diesel multiple-units for use by open access company Hull Trains were finalised by the operator’s parent company FirstGroup and leasing company Angel Trains on November 2. This follows the granting of a ...
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NewsNSB assets transferred to standalone businesses
NORWAY: National operator NSB’s rolling stock fleet and ticketing activities and the associated staff were transferred to two standalone subsidiary companies with effect from October 15. The rolling stock is now owned by Materiellselskapet AS and the sales and ticketing activities by Entur AS (formerly known as Salg og Billettering ...
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NewsMoscow – Berlin Talgo starts on December 17
EUROPE: Russian Railways is to launch its Moscow – Minsk – Warszawa – Berlin Talgo train service in December, the national railway confirmed on October 28. The first trains will depart from Moscow’s Kursk station on December 17 and from Berlin Ostbahnhof the following day, RZD said. Tickets are now ...
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NewsFinnish firm wins TGV lighting contract
FRANCE: SNCF has selected Finnish company Teknoware to supply LED interior lighting for the refurbishment of its Alstom-built TGV Duplex double-deck high speed train fleet. The contract covers the supply of main lighting elements housed in opening ceiling frames on both sides of the aisles, as well as indirect mood ...
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NewsHigh speed rail hub opens in Ankara
TURKEY: National railway TCDD opened a dedicated high speed station in Ankara on October 29, with the inauguration celebrations attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, a former transport minister.Comprising three island platforms with six running lines, the station has been built adjacent to the capital’s ...
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NewsTransPennine Express coach production begins
UK: Production of 66 push-pull coaches for use by TransPennine Express began at rolling stock manufacturer CAF’s factory at Beasain in Spain on October 27. CAF is to deliver 13 five-car push-pull trainsets from 2018, plus one spare driving vehicle. Designated Mark 5A, the coaches will initially be used between ...
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NewsAlstom awarded Breisgau EMU contract
GERMANY: DB Regio has awarded Alstom a contract worth more than €130m for the supply of 24 Coradia Continental regional electric multiple-units. These are to be used from December 2019 on Breisgau-Ost-West services around Freiburg. DB Regio is to operate these services under a contract awarded by the Land of ...