Europe
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Metro Report InternationalFirst Minsk 2024 metro train delivered
BELARUS: The first custom-designed Minsk 2024 metro train was delivered to the Belarusian capital from the TMH Metrowagonmash factory in Russia at the end of July. Seven four-car Series 81-765.7/766.7 trainsets were ordered in March 2023 for use on the Zelenoluzhskaya Line. TMH Engineering developed the ...
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NewsDanish local railway operator selects battery train supplier
DENMARK: Local railway operator Lokaltog has selected its preferred bidder for a contract to supply 14 battery trainsets for use in the Sjælland region, with options for 10 more. The tender published in November 2023 attracted bids from CAF, Siemens Mobility and Stadler Bussnang. Lokaltog decided ...
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In depthComment: ‘Not cheaper, just easier’
With cross-border rail ticketing being cited as a priority for the next European Commission, Andrew Grantham discusses the complexities of achieving seamless bookings and the industry’s struggle to meet growing demand for sustainable mobility options.
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NewsTesla shuttle returns with battery trains
GERMANY: The free shuttle train to Tesla’s Gigafactory plant in Grünheide to the east of Berlin restarted on August 7, using two Siemens Mobility Mireo B battery-electric multiple-units instead of a pair of Bombardier Transportation Talent diesels.
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Metro Report InternationalBrescia tram plan gathers pace
ITALY: As part of plans to build two light rail lines to augment the city’s automated metro, Brescia municipality has called tenders for the design and construction of tram Line T2, including the supply of rolling stock. The city has also commissioned operator Brescia Mobilità to ...
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NewsDAC programme agrees electrical coupler standard
EUROPE: A Voith electrical connection has been selected as the standard design for freight trains equipped with Digital Automatic Couplers, and approved by the European DAC Delivery Programme Supervisory Board. The E-Coupler component of the DAC carries an inter-vehicle energy supply as well as the data ...
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NewsLithuanian operator pulls out of broad gauge wagon sharing agreement
LITHUANIA: LTG Cargo is to withdraw from the CIS Railway Council agreement for the shared use of wagons across the 1 520 mm gauge region, and will instead use a private fleet from January 1 2025. The national operator’s freight business aims to provide 90% of ...
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NewsIsrael Railways DMUs purchased by Romanian company
tn_il-isr-ic3.jpg ROMANIA: Ferotrans has purchased 33 redundant IC3 diesel multiple-units from Israel Railways The price was reported to be between €15m and €16m. ISR acquired 50 of the three-car DMUs manufactured by ABB Scandia, Bombardier and RAMTA in three batches between 1992 and 2005. They have ...
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News‘More digitalisation for more sustainability’ is Siemens Mobility’s InnoTrans message
Photo: Bernd Piplack INNOTRANS: The key message from Siemens Mobility for InnoTrans 2024 is similar to that the company promoted at recent editions of the show: enhancing digitalisation and sustainability. But this year, it is placing particular emphasis on how software tools can further reduce the ...
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NewsKatowice upgrade signalling contract awarded
POLAND: Torpol as general contractor has awarded Alstom a subcontract to supply traffic control systems for a 4·2bn złoty project to upgrade the line through the city of Katowice. The project will increase the number of tracks from two to four between Katowice Szopienice Południowe and ...
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NewsSurveillance stepped up following French high speed rail sabotage
FRANCE: Surveillance of the rail network has been stepped up using human and technical resources on the ground and in the air following the large-scale disruption caused by carefully targeted sabotage on July 26, the opening day of the Paris Olympic Games. Around 1 000 maintenance ...
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NewsŁódź high speed rail tunnel construction tenders called
POLAND: The CPK project has called tenders for the construction of 4·6 km tunnel in Łódź which will be a key element of the Y-shaped high speed line between Warszawa, the future national hub airport, Wrocław and Poznań. The 14 m diameter double-track tunnel to be ...
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NewsVossloh to acquire concrete sleeper manufacturer Sateba
FRANCE: A €450m agreement for Vossloh to acquire concrete sleeper manufacturer Sateba Group from TowerBrook Capital Partners was signed on July 30. Sateba has 1 120 employees and 19 production sites in 10 European countries, with a total capacity of around four million sleepers per year. ...
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NewsNancy – Contrexéville reopening contract signed
FRANCE: Another step towards restoration of commercial services over the 89 km route from Nancy to Contrexéville was taken at the end of June with signature by the Grand Est région and the Nova 14 consortium of the 22-year concession announced on May 24 for rehabilitation ...
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NewsAlstom in ‘constructive’ discussions over future of Görlitz factory
GERMANY: Alstom has confirmed that it is in ‘constructive’ discussions with an unnamed industrial partner regarding the future of the rolling stock factory at Görlitz in Sachsen. According to local media, staff at the plant were informed on July 26 that the site is likely to ...
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NewsRolling motorway train service launched in Spain
SPAIN: The country’s first rolling motorway service for moving lorry semitrailers by rail was formally launched on July 22 following several weeks of tests.
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Metro Report InternationalBattery trams to avoid overhead wires in historic Firenze
ITALY: Hitachi Rail has been awarded a contract to supply 46 trams equipped with batteries to avoid the need for overhead wires in the historic city of Firenze. The order announced on July 30 includes the supply of digital signalling, and operator GEST has also awarded ...
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NewsAutomated wagon inspection to make rail freight more competitive
GERMANY: The Digital Inspection by Machine Intelligence project has been launched to automate and accelerate the manual wagon inspection process which need to be undertaken before an intermodal train can leave a terminal. The aim is to use sensors, cameras and AI to make wagon and ...
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Metro Report InternationalRoubaix-Tourcoing tramway project planning advances
FRANCE: Métropole Européenne de Lille has awarded the Tramelis consortium a 10-year contract to provide project management services for the development of the planned 22 km Roubaix-Tourcoing tramway. The Y-shaped network to the northeast of Lille would run from the Neuville area ...
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NewsReport identifies European missing links where rail could compete with air
EUROPE: Environmental campaigning organisation Greenpeace has produced a comprehensive study of rail services between major European cities, highlighting the ‘untapped potential’ for new direct trains which could replace flights. The Connection Failed report looks at 990 routes between 45 cities. It says only 13% of the ...