Europe – Page 7
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In depthFreight: ‘Nobody is writing us a cheque for €13bn’
European policymakers and the larger rail freight operators are confident that the Digital Automatic Coupler programme can move from vision to reality by 2028. Nevertheless, significant financial and logistical barriers remain. Toma Bačić reports.
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NewsFreight traffic resumes on Baku – Tbilisi – Kars railway
ASIA: The Baku – Tbilisi – Kars railway has re-opened for freight traffic following a year-long maintenance and rebuilding programme on the Georgian section of the line. Work on the 170 km section between Marabda and Akhalkalaki began in May last year and was completed on ...
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Metro Report InternationalHitachi Rail delivers next-generation metro trainset to Genova
ITALY: Hitachi Rail has delivered the first of 14 latest generation metro trainsets to Genova, the municipality reported on May 31. The vehicles are to be used to expand the capacity of the city’s automated light metro line, which is currently being extended at both ends. ...
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In depthCzech Republic: Ostrava link leads revised core network plan
With limited progress being made on the planned new line between Praha and Dresden, Czech infrastructure manager Správa Železnic is taking forward an initial section of high speed line in the east as part of plans to develop a 400 route-km high-performance backbone. SŽ’s Deputy Director for High Speed Lines Jiří Merta explains the state of progress to Benjámin Zelki.
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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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NewsInvestor sees ‘genuine growth potential’ as DB completes sale of Arriva
EUROPE: The sale of Deutsche Bahn’s non-German public transport business Arriva to I Squared Capital has been completed, the companies announced on June 3. DB said it would now focus on rail transport within Germany, while I Squared said it sees opportunities to invest in decarbonisation. ...
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In depthComment: High speed rail’s global appeal
Momentum in the global high speed rail market is tilting towards emerging economies as the established networks in China, Europe and Japan reach maturity. Our Consultant Editor Murray Hughes reflects on the latest technical and developmental trends in the sector.
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Metro Report InternationalDnipro seeks feedback on wartime metro construction
UKRAINE: Dnipro Metro is aiming to restart an extension project which was suspended when the contractor pulled out following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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NewsSlovenia’s longest railway tunnel broken through
SLOVENIA: Celebrations on May 29 marked the breakthrough of what will be the longest railway tunnel in Slovenia. The 6 714 m Lokev tunnel is being built as part of the 2TDK project to provide a second track between Divaca and the port of Koper. Contractors ...
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Metro Report InternationalTallinn takes delivery of Pesa tram
ESTONIA: Tallinn operator TLT has taken delivery of the first of 23 trams which Pesa Bydgoszcz is supplying under a €52m order placed in 2022. The three-section low-floor tram from the Polish manufacturer’s Twist family has six doors and a capacity of up to 184 passengers, ...
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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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NewsLithuanian train operator to replace Russian safety system
LITHUANIA: National train operator LTG Group has awarded SRPA Impulse a contract to replace its Russian KLUB-U cab signalling equipment. ‘We are accelerating our plans and aiming to move away from the Russian KLUB-U locomotive safety system as soon as possible to ensure the use of ...
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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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News‘Audacious’ contract to revive Nancy – Contrexéville route
FRANCE: The Grand Est regional authority has awarded a contract to facilitate the rehabilitation and reopening of the 89 km route from Nancy to Contrexéville by December 2027.
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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 ...
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NewsRussian and Chinese railways plan strategic co-operation
INTERNATIONAL: A strategic co-operation agreement was signed by Russian Railways Chairman Oleg Belozerov and his China Railway counterpart Liu Zhenfang when Russia’s President Putin visited China during May. The railways expressed mutual interest in the joint development of international transport corridors, in particular as part of ...
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Metro Report InternationalCentre for Electric Transport & Driverless Technologies opened
RUSSIA: Moskva Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has inaugurated a Centre for Electric Transport & Driverless Technologies which aims to bring developers together in one place to foster innovation. Projects being worked on include a driverless tram, a virtual Troika card enabling a smart phone to be used ...
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NewsArenaways to revive passenger trains on two routes in northern Italy
ITALY: Italian private operator Arenaways has been awarded a public service obligation contract to run passenger services on two lines in the Piemonte region which were closed for passenger traffic in 2012, CEO of Arenaways Matteo Arena told Railway Gazette International on May 21. On March ...
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Metro Report InternationalEasier payment helps boost Amsterdam public transport ridership
NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam public transport operator GVB reports that it carried more passengers than anticipated in 2023, with an increase in tourists and leisure travellers compensating for the drop in regular commuters because of hybrid working. GVB said this was helped by the introduction of bank card payment ...