Passenger rail news – Page 86
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NewsReform of rail passengers’ rights under discussion
UK: The general approach to reform of Regulation 1371/2007 on rail passengers’ rights has been agreed by the Council of the European Union, which brings together ministers from member states. The Council and the European Parliament will now negotiate the final text, which would be applicable two ...
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NewsJR East tests Saphir Odoriko luxury EMUs
JAPAN: East Japan Railway has started driver training with the first of two Series E261 EMUs which are being supplied by Kawasaki Heavy Industries to operate the Super Odoriko service linking Tokyo to the scenic Izu peninsula, where the Fuji-Hakone National Park is famed for its hot springs.
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NewsPortugal’s only private operator sees concession extended
PORTUGAL: On December 12 the government announced its intention to extend until 2024 the public service contract held by private operator Fertagus, which runs suburban trains serving communities on both sides of the river Tagus in Lisboa. The Council of Ministers suggested that the four year, ...
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NewsSecond ERTMS pilot line commissioned
DENMARK: Commercial operation using ETCS Level 2 Baseline 3 has started on Banedanmark’s Roskilde – Køge line in Sjaelland, which forms the second Early Deployment Line for the national Signalling Programme. Alstom is installing ETCS on the eastern half of the national network under the Fjernbane Øst ...
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Metro Report InternationalLéman Express launches cross-border operations
EUROPE: The Léman Express cross-border suburban network serving Genève and Annemasse began regular operation on December 16, following a formal inauguration on December 12 and a weekend of public celebrations.
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NewsBombardier to refurbish Regina EMUs
SWEDEN: Leasing company AB Transitio has awarded Bombardier Transportation a SKr280m five-year contract for the heavy maintenance and refurbishment of 54 two-car and five three-car Regina regional electric multiple-units. Pre-series refurbishment of the first of the EMUs is expected to be completed by mid-2020, with the rest ...
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NewsRail associations welcome EU Green Deal proposals
EUROPE: Railway industry associations have welcomed the transport sector proposals in the EU Green Deal package outlined by new Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a plenary session of the European Parliament on December 11.
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NewsStation aims to reduce driving to car factory
GERMANY: A station has been opened with the aim of reducing the use of cars to access the Audi automotive factory in Ingolstadt. ‘The new station is a milestone for public transport in the region and a clear commitment to a sustainable ...
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NewsDMUs delivered to Manila
PHILIPPINES: A ceremony at Manila’s South Harbor on December 11 marked the arrival of two three-car diesel multiple-units, which are to enter service on Philippine National Railways’ routes from FTI station to Tutuban and Malabon from December 16. The DMUs form part of a ...
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NewsRhein-Ruhr S-Bahn tendering dispute settled
GERMANY: An out-of-court settlement has been reached over the decision by Rhein-Ruhr transport authority VRR to cancel a contract for Keolis to operate S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr services. Details of the agreement announced on December 10 were not disclosed. In July 2016 VRR awarded Keolis the Lot A contract ...
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NewsLubelskie voivodship orders eight Newag EMUs
POLAND: Newag is to supply eight two-car Impuls 2 electric multiple-units to Lubelskie voivodship in eastern Poland. The contract signed on December 9 is worth 146·6m złoty including VAT. Deliveries are scheduled to be completed in December 2021, and the manufacturer will provide a 64-month warranty on ...
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NewsSZU orders Stadler EMUs
SWITZERLAND: Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn has awarded Stadler a SFr46·7m contract to supply five three-section Be570 electric multiple-units for the 1 435 mm gauge Uetlibergbahn, which forms Route S10 of the Zürich transport network. Intended to replace the line’s Be520 and B220 vehicles, the new EMUs will ...
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NewsRENFE to launch Avlo low-cost high speed rail for everyone
SPAIN: National operator RENFE has unveiled the Avlo branding for its future low-cost high speed train service. Avlo is to be launched on the Madrid – Zaragoza – Barcelona corridor on April 6 2020, with tickets to go on sale in January. It would then be expanded ...
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NewsHaramain launches Jeddah airport service at 300 km/h
SAUDI ARABIA: High speed services to and from Jeddah airport were launched on December 11. The six-track station serving Terminal 1 at King Abdulaziz International Airport is linked to the 450 km Haramain High Speed Railway between Makkah and Madinah by a 6·6 km branch. This includes ...
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NewsSBB adds cross-border capacity
SWITZERLAND: Swiss Federal Railways will offer a major increase in capacity on international inter-city routes with effect from the timetable change on December 15. Announcing details at an event held in Zürich Hauptbahnhof on November 23, SBB said that demand for travel ...
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Rail Business UKGrand Central completes £9m fleet refurbishment
UK: Arriva TrainCare’s Eastleigh site has completed a £9m two-year programme to undertake the mid-life refurbishment of 10 Alstom Class 180 Adelante inter-city DMUs for open access operator Grand Central. The trains have had a full interior refresh, with new seats with ...
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NewsPRASA put into administration
SOUTH AFRICA: The interim board of Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa has been dismissed, and the troubled organisation has been put into administration Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula announced on December 9. ‘The continued decline of the quality of service PRASA provides to the commuting ...
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NewsVy Tog wins Bergen – Oslo operating contract
NORWAY: National railway agency Jernbanedirektoratet has named Vy Tog as preferred bidder for the Lot 3 Vest operating contract, which covers long-distance passenger services from Bergen to Voss, Myrdal and Oslo, and local services between Bergen and Arna. The winning bidder was announced on December 9. Jernbanedirektoratet ...
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NewsWabtec delivers locomotives to Egypt
EGYPT: Wabtec has delivered 10 Evolution Series diesel locomotives to Egyptian National Railways and the Ministry of Transportation. In June 2017 the Ministry of Transportation and Egyptian National Railways signed a US$575m letter of intent for the supply of 100 mixed-traffic locomotives from GE, which subsequently merged ...
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NewsNS CEO calls for comprehensive high speed network
EUROPE: ‘Something is really wrong’ when airlines can offer flights ‘at ridiculous prices’ in Europe, said Roger Van Boxtel, CEO of Dutch national passenger operator NS in the keynote opening session at the World Rail Festival in Amsterdam on December 4. Referring to the UN Climate Change ...