Passenger rail news – Page 43
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In depthPassenger Rolling Stock: Building better trains in India
Indian Railways is developing a new generation of passenger coaches aimed at weaning travellers away from rapidly growing air and road services. Raghu Dayal investigates.
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NewsComfortable seats and good connectivity specified in inter-regional train order
SWEDEN: State-owned passenger operator SJ has awarded CAF a €300m contract to supply 25 five-car inter-regional electric multiple-units, with options for 35 more. The 200 km/h units from the Spanish manufacturer’s Civity Nordic family will be winterised to withstand snow and temperatures down to -40ºC. They ...
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Metro Report InternationalCentral bank to roll out national contactless transport payment system
COSTA RICA: The SINPE-TP national electronic payment system for public transport is being rolled out on trains and buses by central bank BCCR, which estimates that contactless payments for public transport could reduce cash payments nationwide by 25%. Announcing a contract to provide BCCR with a ...
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NewsSan Diego operations and maintenance taken in-house
USA: San Diego’s North County Transit District has completed the insourcing of operation and maintenance of its Coaster and Sprinter regional passenger services. This was previously undertaken by Alstom, as successor to Bombardier Transportation, and sees almost 100 staff transfer to the agency. ‘This transition will ...
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NewsCross-border links backed as €5·4bn in grants awarded at Connecting Europe Days
A total of €5·4bn in transport investment funding was announced at the Connecting Europe Days in Lyon on June 29. Toma Bačić reports from Lyon.
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NewsMadrid tunnel unites Spain’s standard gauge high speed networks
SPAIN: A cross-city tunnel between Madrid Atocha and Chamartín with two 1 435 mm gauge tracks opened on July 1, integrating the standard gauge lines to the north and south of the capital. Through trains no longer need to use gauge-changers at Atocha and Chamartín, reducing ...
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In depthSouth Africa: PRASA revival hangs by a thread
Infrastructure theft and vandalism brought South Africa’s passenger railways to their knees during the pandemic lockdown of spring 2020. Restoration of PRASA’s Western Cape suburban services is now offering hope for the future, but in populous Gauteng the outlook seems bleak, with many routes rendered inoperable. Benjámin Zelki visited in early 2022.
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Metro Report InternationalGreen bonds raise funds for Virginia commuter rail improvements
USA: Commuter operator Virginia Railway Express closed a public bond sale on June 28 which will enable it to make a $119·2m contribution towards the state’s purchase of a CSX line in the Interstate 95 corridor as part of the $4bn Transforming Rail in Virginia programme. ...
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Metro Report InternationalHedjaz Railway-inspired trams planned in AlUla
SAUDI ARABIA: Plans for a 50 km light rail network with trams designed to look like trains from the historic Hedjaz Railway have been announced by the Royal Commission for AlUla. The tramway would connect urban areas, archaeological sites and tourist destinations around the ancient city ...
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NewsDB to operate Delhi – Meerut RRTS commuter railway
INDIA: National Capital Region Transport Corp has awarded Deutsche Bahn International Operations a 12-year contract to operate and maintain the future 82 km Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System. The Delhi area commuter rail project promoter said it had taken a ‘path-breaking step’ ...
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NewsNS unveils its Intercity Next Generation trainset
NETHERLANDS: The Intercity Next Generation trainset was officially unveiled by Acting President of national passenger operator NS Bert Groenewegen and Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge at Rotterdam Centraal station on July 2, ahead of entry into service later this year. NS said the trains would become an ...
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In depthComment: No time to delay
The rail industry is emerging from the pandemic facing an urgent need to prioritise investment and ensure tangible operational, productivity and technological benefits are delivered within the next five years, argues our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsGo-Ahead operating contract revised for post-pandemic world
NORWAY: Go-Ahead Group’s contract for the operation of Lot 1 Sør passenger services has been renegotiated to include a revenue support scheme as a result of the pandemic. The contract awarded by national rail authority Jernbanedirektoratet began in December 2019. It covers inter-city services on the ...
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NewsRENFE leases hotel trains to Turkish private operator
TURKEY: Spanish national operator RENFE is to lease two Talgo locomotive-hauled hotel trains to private tourist train operator Sun Tren for use on a luxury tourist service linking Istanbul with Cappadocia.
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NewsSouth Shore Line double tracking project gets underway
USA: Indiana Governor Eric J Holcomb has officially launched work to provide a double-track alignment along the whole 41 route-km section of the South Shore Line between Michigan City and Gary. This involves 29 km of double tracking, including a new 3 km segregated alignment to ...
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NewsConsultation starts on Swiss Bahn 2050 programme
SWITZERLAND: The Federal Council has put forward proposals for a further long-term programme of investment in the national rail network. Enhancement of the existing network to allow more intensive use is now seen as preferable to starting more major infrastructure projects.
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News‘Shake and brake’ earthquake safety system on test
USA: An earthquake early warning system that uses Positive Train Control to apply train brakes automatically is being tested by Los Angeles commuter operator Metrolink, California Department of Transportation and the US Geological Survey.
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NewsTexas Supreme Court backs high speed rail land acquisition
USA: The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that Dallas to Houston high speed railway project promoters Texas Central Railroad & Infrastructure and Integrated Texas Logistics do have the right to acquire land for the proposed line under the state’s eminent domain process.
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NewsAmtrak President appointed
USA: Amtrak President & CEO Stephen Gardner has announced the separation of the roles, with Roger Harris to become President from July 5. Gerhard Williams will become Executive Vice-President, Service Delivery & Operations. ‘Amtrak has entered an exciting new era of growth and development, with more ...
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NewsHeidekrautbahn hydrogen trains to be supplied with full maintenance package
GERMANY: Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn has confirmed an order for Siemens Mobility to supply and maintain seven two-car Mireo Plus H hydrogen fuel cell multiple-units for use on Heidekrautbahn service RB27 from December 2024. Designed to provide zero-emission operation on non-electrified routes, the units will have a 1·7 ...