Passenger rail news – Page 67
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In depthPolicy: Passenger rail in the age of coronavirus
The rail sector continues to grapple with the implications of a drastic drop in ridership and the need to deploy extensive Covid-19 mitigation measures. However, the passenger experience is not uniform around the world: Mike Bent presents a snapshot of reports from Japan, Spain and Poland.
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NewsHigh speed network reaches Ningxia
CHINA: High speed trains have begun serving the Ningxia Hui autonomous region in northwest China, following the inauguration of the 617 km Passenger-Dedicated Line between Yinchuan and Xi’an. Under construction since 2015, the 18-station line has been built at a total cost of 80·5bn yuan. It ...
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NewsRs38tr investment envisaged in National Rail Plan
INDIA: The Ministry of Railways has begun consultation on its National Rail Plan, intended to shape the evolution of Indian Railways up to 2050.
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NewsChilean operator orders electro-diesel multiple-units
CHILE: National operator EFE has awarded CRRC Sifang a contract to supply six four-car electro-diesel multiple-units for use from mid-2023 on the partially electrified Santiago – Chillán line. The US$70m contract finalised in December includes maintenance. It has been awarded as part of a US$115m programme of ...
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NewsFART orders new trains
SWITZERLAND: Ticino rail and bus operator Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi has awarded Stadler a contract to supply eight custom-made electric multiple-units to the Centovalli railway in time for the metre-gauge line’s 100th anniversary in 2023. Announcing the SFr94m contract on January 7, Stadler said the replacement of ...
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Metro Report InternationalSão Paulo tenders suburban operations
BRAZIL: The São Paulo state government has called tenders for the operation and maintenance of two busy suburban lines, under a programme intended to attract private investment for enhancements. The state’s Secretaría de Transporte Metropolitano has invited bids for a 30-year concession to operate and maintain Line ...
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In depthInterview: ‘We have to win back our customers’
Just when the French national operator’s passenger sector is coming to terms with Covid-19 and the collapse of business travel, it faces the arrival of competition in both the regional and long-distance markets. Chris Jackson asked Christophe Fanichet, President-Directeur Général of SNCF Voyageurs, about his strategy at a time of unprecedented challenges.
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NewsFinnish passenger services secured as VR monopoly ends
FINLAND: The Ministry of Transport & Communications has awarded national operator VR a public service obligation contract for the provision of loss-making but socially-desirable passenger trains during 2021. The agreement takes into account the drop in ticket revenue as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The €30·6m ...
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Metro Report InternationalHigh Capacity Metro Trains enter service in Melbourne
AUSTRALIA: The first of 65 High Capacity Metro Trains being built for the Melbourne suburban network entered service on the Pakenham line on December 26. The seven-car EMUs are being supplied by the Evolution Rail consortium of Downer, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles and Plenary Group under ...
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Metro Report InternationalNew EMUs enter service as first Berlin S-Bahn concession starts
GERMANY: The first Class 483/484 EMUs for the Berlin S-Bahn network began running on route S47 in the early hours of January 1, as the route became the first in the city to be operated under a tendered contract. The Spindlersfeld – ...
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NewsHefei – Anqing high speed line opened
CHINA The 162 km Hefei – Anqing Passenger-Dedicated Line has been opened for revenue service, linking the capital of Anhui province with its second city of Anqing on northern bank of the Yangtse River.
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NewsAmtrak’s Moynihan Train Hall expands New York Penn Station
USA: Amtrak will start to operate out of the converted Moynihan Train Hall from January 1 to boost its passenger handling capacity at New York’s Penn Station, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on December 28.
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NewsRegioJet ready to launch Polish sleeper
EUROPE: RegioJet has obtained all the approvals needed to launch its planned overnight service between Praha, Kraków and Przemysl, the Czech independent operator confirmed on December 30.
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NewsBeijing – Xiong’an inter-city railway completed
CHINA: The high speed line linking Beijing with the Xiong’an New Area in Hebei province was completed on December 27 with the opening of a 91 km extension from Beijing Daxing International Airport.
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NewsHospital station to open next year
DENMARK: Gødstrup station which Banedanmark is building on the Herning – Holstebro line in western Jylland is nearing completion and on course to open in spring 2021, the infrastructure manager confirmed in December. Intended to serve the hospital now under construction at Gødstrup, 6 km northwest of ...
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NewsHustopeče u Brna branch electrified
CZECH REPUBLIC: Electric trains began running on the 6·7 km branch between Hustopeče u Brna and Šakvice on December 12, enabling the introduction of a direct service S3 linking Hustopeče to Brno in just 35 min. As well as 25 kV 50 Hz electrification, the modernisation of ...
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NewsHauts-de-France orders more double-deck EMUs
FRANCE: Acting on behalf of the Hauts-de-France region, SNCF has awarded Bombardier Transportation a €565m firm contract to supply 33 Omneo Regio2N double-deck regional electric multiple-units from its Crespin plant in 2024-25. The order announced on December 22 has been placed under a 2010 framework agreement covering ...
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NewsSouth Link goes electric
TAIWAN: Electrification of Taiwan Railways Administration’s 1 067 mm gauge main line network was completed on December 20, when electric trains began running over the South Link between Fangliao and Taitung. Opened in 1992, the 98·2 km line completed the rail loop ...
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NewsPolregio and Lubuskie voivodship sign 10-year contract
POLAND: A 1bn złoty contract for national regional passenger train operator Polregio to continue running services in Lubuskie voivodship for the next 10 years came into effect with the December 13 timetable change. The contract signed on December 3 covers the operation of ...
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NewsBucurești airport rail link opens
ROMANIA: Regular services between Henri Coandă airport and the centre of București began with the timetable change on December 12. Trains run every 40 min throughout the day and night, using a 2·95 km double-track branch off CFR’s București – Urziceni line to reach the airport station ...