Passenger rail news – Page 231
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NewsCAF unveils Oaris high speed train concept
SPAIN: A full-size mock-up of the Oaris high speed train concept being developed by CAF was unveiled at the International Rail Forum exhibition in Valencia on May 25. The company has been leading one of the work streams in the CENIT programme to develop trains for operation at over 300 ...
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NewsDen Haag Centraal station rebuild gets underway
NETHERLANDS: Work has begun to rebuild the 1970s Den Haag Centraal station as 'a spacious, bright and comfortable' multi -modal public transport interchange. Construction was formally launched on May 25 when Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings, ProRail Projects Director Patrick Buck, city councillor Marnix Norder and Gert Jan Vos of contractor ...
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NewsDanish timetables integrated with Google Maps
DENMARK: Travellers in Denmark can now use the Google Maps website to plan multi-modal public transport trips. Users type an address or click on the start and end points of their journey, and Google Transit provides details of train and bus times and connections along with a map of the ...
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NewsNTV readies for Italo high speed launch
ITALY: Open access high speed operator NTV confirmed on May 25 that it is on track to launch commercial services in September 2011, having reached agreement with infrastructure manager RFI for paths linking 12 stations in nine principal cities. NTV Chairman Luca di Montezemolo announced that the first of its ...
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NewsHitting the right notes
AUDIO: EAO has extended its Series 56 range of sound modules with the launch of a TSI PRM-compliant offering. The module can be pre-programmed with three TSI-compliant tones that are intended to help mobility-impaired passengers board trains and orientate themselves within the saloon. The module allows volume ...
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NewsChina's rail expansion continues
CHINA: The rapid expansion of the Chinese rail network continues, with a series of significant openings in recent weeks. Two years to the day after a devastating earthquake hit Sichuan province, a 65 km high speed link between Chengdu and Dujiangyan was opened on May 12. The 13bn yuan ...
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NewsLa Sagrera contracts awarded
SPAIN: ADIF has awarded two contracts worth a total of €5892m for the construction of a new station at La Sagrera in Barcelona, located on the high speed line to the French border. Also served by regional and suburban trains and with parking space for 2500 cars, it is expected ...
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NewsPortuguese high speed concession signed
PORTUGAL: Minister of Public Works, Transport & Communications António Mendoça participated in ceremonies on May 8 to mark the formal signing of the 40-year PPP concession contract covering construction of the country’s first high speed line. He was joined by Assistant Secretary of State Paulo Campas, Transport Secretary Correia da ...
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NewsRegioJet launches its yellow spring trains
CZECH REPUBLIC: After more than two years of campaigning and having obtained a passenger operating licence last October, the RegioJet subsidiary of travel agent and coach operator Student Agency has managed to finally enter the local rail market, albeit briefly, and to acquire a fleet of electric locomotives to support ...
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NewsDouble-deck in Delhi
INDIA: Rail Coach Factory rolled out its first double-deck coach for trials between Delhi and Muradabad on March 31. A double-deck train is expected to be in service by the end of the year. The stainless steel car was developed by RCF and Research Design & Standard Organisation over nine ...
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NewsAlstom opens new Pendolino depot
UK: A purpose-built depot designed to maintain and service Virgin Trains' Class 390 Pendolino trainsets was formally inaugurated by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Mike Storey on May 12. Owned and operated by Alstom's West Coast Traincare business, the depot at Edge Hill will provide the extra capacity needed ...
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NewsNorthern secures two-year franchise extension
UK: Northern Rail announced on May 13 that it had exceed the performance targets necessary to trigger a two-year extension to its franchise to operate passenger services across the north of England. Northern Rail is owned by a joint venture of Serco and Abellio, the subsidiary of Dutch national rail ...
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NewsBombardier wins SBB double-deck train order
SWITZERLAND: On May 12 Swiss Federal Railways announced that Bombardier Transportation had been selected to supply a fleet of 59 double-deck electric multiple-units for long-distance services. The order for a total of 436 vehicles is the largest single rolling stock contract which SBB has placed, and includes ...
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NewsArriva awarded Vechtdal Lines operating contract
NETHERLANDS: The provinces of Overijssel and Drenthe and the region of Twente announced on May 11 that they had jointly selected Arriva to operate regional passenger services on the Vechtdal Lines. Bids had also been received from Syntus, Veolia and Pollarisrail. Arriva will take over the Zwolle - Mariënberg - ...
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NewsAlstom EMUs ordered for Stockholm commuter services
SWEDEN: On May 11 Alstom Transport announced a €102m order to supply Stockholm public transport authority Storstockholms Lokaltrafik with 12 Coradia Nordic electric multiple-units for use on Stockholm - Uppsala services from 2012. The articulated six-car 15 kV 16·7 Hz units will have space for 374 passengers, asynchronous traction ...
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News600-train framework agreements announced
GERMANY: BeNEX has announced framework agreements under which three rolling stock manufacturers could each supply up to 200 multi-section electric multiple-units. The tendering process began in 2008 and ended on May 5 with the announcement of agreements for Bombardier Transportation to supply Talent 2 units, Alstom Transport its Coradia Continental ...
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NewsVeolia and Transdev sign definitive merger agreements
EUROPE: On May 5 Caisse des Dépôts and Veolia Environnement announced the signing of definitive agreements for the merger of Transdev and Veolia Transport, having completed consultation with employee representatives. The deal is subject to authorisation by the French government and regulatory authorities, who will be formally notified 'in ...
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NewsDB unveils next-generation ICE
GERMANY: The first of 15 Velaro D fourth-generation ICE trainsets for Deutsche Bahn was formally unveiled at Siemens’ Uerdingen plant in Krefeld on April 28 by DB Board Member, Technical, Dr Volker Kefer and the CEO of Siemens Mobility Dr Hans-Jörg Grundmann. Designated Class 407, the eight-car trainsets are ...
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NewsDB and SJ win Norrtåg regional operating contract
SWEDEN: The Botniatåg joint venture of Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB Regio Sverige and Swedish national passenger operator SJ has been selected to operate Norrtåg regional passenger services on the Botnia line and other routes in northern Sweden. The contract runs for six years to August 2016, with an ...
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NewsLGV Bretagne negotiations move forward
FRANCE: Infrastructure manager RFF announced on April 27 that it had invited final offers from the three consortia bidding for the contract to build and maintain LGV Bretagne-Pays-de-la-Loire, with a view to naming a preferred bidder by the end of this year. Expected to cost around €3·4bn at current prices, ...