Passenger rail news – Page 8
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NewsRhätische Bahn’s replacement Albula tunnel opens
SWITZERLAND: More than 300 guests from the rail industry, politics, business and tourism attended opening celebrations held at both ends of Rhätische Bahn’s replacement Albula tunnel on June 8, ahead of the start of regular services on June 12. The 5 860 m long Albula II ...
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NewsOntario Northlander passenger train revival contracts awarded
CANADA: The government of Ontario has awarded contracts for infrastructure works to enable the reinstatement of Ontario Northland’s Northlander passenger service between Toronto Union station and a new Timmins-Porcupine station.
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NewsSouthern section of Guangzhou – Foshan circular line opens
CHINA: The South Ring Section of the Guangzhou – Foshan circular railway opened on May 26, running from Panyu (Guangzhou Nan) to Foshan Xi. The route is shared with the Guangzhou – Foshan – Zhaoqing inter-city railway. Services run at up to 200 km/h. Construction of ...
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NewsVirginia looks to boost passenger services
USA: Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is in preliminary discussions with Norfolk Southern for the purchase of the route used by Manassas Line commuter services, and to introduce passenger services to the New River Valley in the southeast of the state. Purchasing the Manassas Line would enable ...
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NewsHigh speed train start-up Proxima announces €1bn launch plan
FRANCE: High speed rail start-up Proxima has announced a €1bn plan backed by investor Antin Infrastructure Partners to acquire 12 Alstom trainsets and launch open access services from Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes and Angers to Paris. Proxima has been established by former Voyages SNCF CEO Rachel Picard, ...
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NewsKenya Railways sets out strategic plan for 2023-27
KENYA: Kenya Railways has launched its strategic plan for 2023-27, setting out a medium-term policy, legal, institutional and regulatory framework to transform itself into the ’leading transport service provider in the region’. The plan includes developing and upgrading rail infrastructure, increasing freight and passenger capacity, expanding ...
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NewsMidnight Trains drops plans for hotel quality sleeper train network
FRANCE: Start-up Midnight Trains has abandoned its ambitious plan to develop a network of premium overnight trains offering hotel-standard accommodation on European routes of up to 1 500 km from Paris, after being unable to raise the necessary funding. Co-founder Adrien Aumont said the rail sector’s ...
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NewsItaly allocates funding for hydrogen trains
ITALY: Funding for the purchase of hydrogen and hydrogen-electric regional trainsets has been announced by the Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport. ‘We confirm our determination to modernise the country, with choices that respect the environment’, said Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini when the allocations were announced ...
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Rail Business UKHaigh confirms open access operators’ role in Labour’s rail plans
UK: ‘Open access operators like these will play a role in the future of our railways under Labour’, Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said when she officially opened Hull Trains’ Learning & Development Academy.
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NewsGovernor signs São Paulo – Campinas inter-city contract
BRAZIL: São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas and State Deputy Dirceu Dalben signed the long-awaited contract with the Brazilian-Chinese C2 Mobilidade sobre Trilhos Consortium for the Trem Intercidades Eixo Norte in Campinas on June 3. Covering the development and implementation of a São Paulo – Campinas ...
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Metro Report InternationalAlstom to support Kinshasa urban rail project
DR CONGO: Alstom has signed a memorandum of understanding to co-operate with Africa Finance Corp in the development of the 300 km MetroKin urban rail project in fast-growing Kinshasa.
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NewsConcepción area railway enhancement scheme presented
CHILE: A US$3·2bn railway investment plan for the Biobío region, centred on Greater Concepción, was presented on May 17 by Minister of Transport & Telecommunications Juan Carlos Muñoz, Minister General Secretary of Government Camila Vallejo, and President of state railways group EFE, Eric Martin. The scheme ...
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Rail Business UKHitachi Evero trains enter service with Avanti West Coast
UK: Avanti West Coast announced Evero as the brand name for the 200 km/h inter-city trainsets being supplied by Hitachi Rail when its first Class 805 electro-diesel sets entered service with the June 2 timetable change. AWC has ordered 13 five-car Class 805 electro-diesel trainsets for ...
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NewsHigh-capacity EMU to work steeply graded suburban line
CHINA: CRRC has rolled out the first suburban electric multiple-unit for the Chongqing Urban Rail Express Bishan – Tongliang Line, which is under construction for opening next year. The manufacturer said the EMU has a high-strength lightweight aluminium alloy body with a ...
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NewsLow floor coaches added to the GoldenPass Express
SWITZERLAND: Low-floor gauge-changing panoramic coaches have been added to enhance the accessibility of GoldenPass Express services between Montreux, Zweisimmen and Interlaken Ost.
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NewsVR completes acquisition of MTR Express
SWEDEN: Finnish national operator VR Group completed its acquisition of MTR Corp’s Stockholm – Göteborg open access passenger operator MTR Express on May 30. Integration of MTRX into VR’s long-distance operations will begin immediately, with the 130 employees now part of VR’s inter-city business unit. Services ...
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NewsDaejeon area express commuter rail proposal presented
SOUTH KOREA: Construction company DL E&C has put forward an initial proposal for the planned CTX express commuter rail network centred on Daejeon in Chungcheong province. As part of the government’s programme to create ‘30 min commute zones’, in January President Yoon Suk Yeol announced plans ...
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NewsRevolution Express tourist train to highlight Vietnamese history
VIETNAM: An agreement to launch a steam-hauled Revolution Express tourist train themed on Vietnamese history has been signed by Indochina Rail Tourist Service and Wafaifo Optimisers. The launch is planned for late 2024 or early 2025. Two restored steam locomotives will haul the retro-style coaches and custom-made ...
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Rail Business UKLevenmouth rail link officially opened
UK: The reinstated Levenmouth railway was official inaugurated by Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney on May 29, ahead of the start of passenger services on June 2.
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NewsAvril high speed trains enter service
SPAIN: The first 10 Talgo S106 Avril high speed trainsets entered passenger service with national operator RENFE on May 21. The Alta Velocidad, Rueda Independiente, Ligero (High Speed, Independent Wheels, Lightweight) is the latest evolution of the Talgo family. The 330 km/h Series 106 sets have ...