Europe – Page 4
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NewsConstruction of Niš railway bypass launched
SERBIA: President Aleksandar Vučić officially launched construction of the 22·5 km Niš bypass railway with a ceremony on July 6. The single-track electrified line designed for 120 km/h running will link Niš Ranžirna yard with Sićevo station on the line to Dimitrovgrad, bypassing the city centre. ...
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NewsRail freight associations raise ‘serious concerns’ about digital automatic couplers
EUROPE: ‘Serious concerns’ about the competitive, economic, technical and operational impact of deploying digital automatic couplers have been set out by associations representing private freight operators in central and eastern Europe. They say DAC offers numerous benefits, but ‘hasty and arbitrary solutions could further hamper the ...
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Metro Report InternationalMultimodal opportunities as Luxembourg tramway extension opens
LUXEMBOURG: The 3·7 km five-stop Phase D extension of the city of Luxembourg’s tramway south from Lycée Bouneweg to Stadion was opened by Mayor Lydie Polfer on July 7. The new terminus provides an interchange with bus services, and a park-and-ride facility is to open in ...
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In depthInterview: Full service and multi-system in demand
Polish leasing company Cargounit is seeing growing demand for multi-system electric locomotives and bi-modes with a last mile capability, and CEO Łukasz Boroń tells Benjámin Zelki that customers are increasingly looking for full-service packages.
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NewsVR beats Vy to win next Norrtåg operating contract
SWEDEN: The Norrtåg transport authority owned by four regions in the north of Sweden has selected VR Sverige as preferred bidder for the next contract to operate local passenger train services.
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NewsTransFLEX launched to offer freight customers more flexibility
EUROPE: Austrian Federal Railways’ freight business ÖBB Rail Cargo Group has formally launched its TransFLEX product, which aims to offer flexible freight services tailored to a customer’s individual needs. TransFLEX offers ‘uncomplicated ad-hoc or spot’ transport, as well as multimodal service including first and last mile ...
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Metro Report InternationalMazyr to take delivery of first trams since 1988
BELARUS: The Mazyr tramway which is owned and operated by the oil refinery which it serves is about to take delivery of its first new trams since the 20 km line opened in 1988. In autumn 2024, BKM was awarded a contract to supply 10 Type ...
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Metro Report InternationalSiemens Mobility awarded Berlin U-Bahn CBTC contract
GERMANY: Berlin transport operator BVG has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply communications-based train control to support Grade of Automation 2 attended semi-automated operation on metro lines U5 and U8.
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In depthFrance: Fret SNCF faces an uncertain future
Christian Scasso assesses the changes that are set to transform France’s nationalised rail freight operations in 2025.
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Metro Report InternationalRebodied tram unveiled
RUSSIA: The BKM-Siberia joint venture of Belarussian manufacturer Belkommunmash and the city of Novosibirsk unveiled its first rebodied partially low-floor Type T701 tram at the Siberian Transport Forum trade fair which was held in the city during June. The cost of rebodying a tram is put ...
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In depthComment: Private train operators seek the light
The collapse of Midnight Trains has raised questions about the viability of new entrants in Europe’s open access rail market, despite the optimism surrounding ventures like Le Train and Proxima. Nick Kingsley reflects on the challenges and potential for future success in this competitive landscape.
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NewsDanish train operator to buy solar power
DENMARK: National passenger operator DSB has agreed to purchase 80 GWh/year from the 262 GWh/year Lidsø Solar Park which European Energy is to develop on a 253 ha site at Rødbyhavn. DSB said this is equivalent to half of the current power consumption of its København ...
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Metro Report InternationalToruń tram framework contract awarded
POLAND: Pesa Bydgoszcz has beaten Turkish company Bozankaya to win a framework contract to supply MZK Toruń with up to 20 low-floor unidirectional trams. A firm order for an initial four trams is planned, with follow-on orders to be placed over 48 months subject to EU ...
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NewsPoland recommits to CPK high speed rail programme
POLAND: Prime Minister Donald Tusk has recommitted his government to implementing the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny high speed rail and airport programme. When the current government came to power at the end of last year it quickly initiated a review of the previous administration’s plans for the ...
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NewsIncumbent awarded next Niedersachsen-Ost operating contract
GERMANY: The Niedersachen, Greater Braunchsweig and Hannover transport authorities have awarded incumbent Metronom the next contract to operate Elektro-Netz Niedersachsen-Ost passenger services. The next ENNO contract will run from December 2025 to December 2038, with the option to extend for a further two years. It covers ...
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NewsComfortJet coaches enter service
CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator ČD has put its first set of ComfortJet inter-city coaches into revenue service. An initial set began operating on the Praha – Bohumín route on June 12, with the Bohumín – Františkovy Lázně route to follow once three sets are ready for ...
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NewsWiremind software to help Eurostar optimise revenue
EUROPE: International high speed train operator Eurostar has signed a five-year contract to use Wiremind’s CAYZN software to modernise its revenue management processes, identify new revenue opportunities and increase load factors. It is expected to go live in Q1 2025. Eurostar Chief Commercial Officer François Le ...
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NewsDublin – Belfast boost in Irish timetable recast
IRELAND: National railway Iarnród Éireann is planning a major uplift in its inter-city and inter-regional services in the second half of the year, including a boost in frequency to the cross-border Enterprise service linking Dublin and Belfast.
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Metro Report InternationalCAF sole bidder to supply Bologna trams
ITALY: CAF is the sole bidder for the tram tender in Bologna, the city council announced on June 25. The municipality is currently evaluating the offer and it still hopes to sign a contract by the end of the summer. Bologna municipality has called tenders worth ...
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NewsSBB sets date to restore full access to Gotthard Base Tunnel
SWITZERLAND: SBB has confirmed that it expects to reopen the Gotthard Base Tunnel fully on September 2, bringing to an end more than a year of disruption caused by a derailment of a freight train in August 2023. According to the national railway, repair works in ...