Europe – Page 2
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NewsTrain driver and head of safety convicted over Santiago de Compostela derailment
SPAIN: It was ‘incomprehensible’ that a high speed line equipped with ERTMS would not have it installed at a location where a speed restriction meant it was so obviously required, the judge said when a criminal court reached its verdict on the July 24 2013 derailment of a Class 730 Alvia train.
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NewsClockface timetable planned to support Polish passenger rail tendering
POLAND: Transport planners are seeking feedback from international train operators on regulations for public service obligation and commercial contracts, capacity allocation and train timetabling, to help inform plans for the liberalisation of the Polish long-distance passenger rail sector. A consultation to be launched shortly will feed ...
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NewsStrikes, weather and ageing infrastructure hold back DB’s first half performance
GERMANY: Hopes that the flow of investment in the Deutsche Bahn network would lead to a rapid improvement in operational and financial performance were dashed on July 25 when DB published its half-year results. One highlight was a 4∙9% rise in the total number of passengers ...
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Metro Report InternationalNew trains and CBTC to increase Bilbao metro capacity
SPAIN: Metro de Bilbao has announced a €736m plan to increase capacity by 12% by upgrading its metre-gauge network and replacing its oldest vehicles. Communications-based train control is to be installed at an estimated cost of €130m. This would enable headways to be reduced and provide ...
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In depthRail Logistics: Freight trains are getting smarter
While the complex migration to operation using digital automatic couplers lies ahead, Europe’s freight trains are already being digitalised. Reinhard Christeller presents a snapshot of the benefits in safety, productivity and cost effectiveness.
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NewsBattery-hybrid trainset enters service with Grand Est
FRANCE: Commercial trials with a hybrid multiple-unit featuring conventional electric, diesel and battery traction were launched in the Grand Est région on July 15. The train will operate on the Strasbourg – Sarreguemines route until November 24, during which tests will also be undertaken using hydrotreated ...
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NewsElectro-diesel trains ordered for Zagreb – Split route
CROATIA: National passenger operator HŽPP has awarded Končar KEV a contract to supply six electro-diesel multiple-units for the 429 km Zagreb – Split route, which is electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz as far as Oštarije. The €57·3m contract signed on July 23 is being financed ...
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Metro Report InternationalRegional-Stadtbahn Neckar-Alb tram-train design unveiled
GERMANY: Project promoter Zweckverband Regional-Stadtbahn Neckar-Alb has unveiled the appearance of the Stadler Citylink tram-train vehicles ordered for the future regional light rail network.
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NewsAlstom wins €4bn contract to supply ‘tailor-made’ Köln S-Bahn trains
GERMANY: Transport authorities go.Rheinland and Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr have selected Alstom to supply and maintain 90 custom-designed Adessia Stream electric multiple-units for S-Bahn services through Köln. Alstom said the order announced on July 24 was the largest it had won in Germany, with an overall value of ...
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Metro Report InternationalMadrid metro Line 6 to go driverless
SPAIN: Metro de Madrid has announced more details of its plans for the automation of the 23·5 km, 28-station circular Line 6, which is the busiest on the network with an average of 618 000 passengers on weekdays. Work on the €129m project is scheduled to ...
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Metro Report InternationalDriverless tram operation demonstrated in depot
FINLAND: The driverless movement of a tram around the Tampere tramway’s depot has been demonstrated, with Škoda Group saying its ’marks a significant step towards full autonomy’. The Škoda ForCity Smart Artic X34 tram was set tasks remotely. It then moved around the depot ...
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In depthEurope: Rail Baltica makes progress despite cost increase
Construction of the long-planned 1 435 mm gauge north-south rail corridor through the Baltic States is ramping up rapidly, despite a near-trebling of the forecast cost and continuing uncertainty over some sections of the route. Toma Bačić reports from Tallinn.
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NewsPaper or digital ticket machines deployed
NORWAY: ALMEX has supplied Olso Gardermoen airport train operator Flytoget with vending machines which can either print a paper ticket or send a digital ticket to a passenger’s mobile phone by text message.
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NewsVectrons ordered for trans-Alpine routes
SWITZERLAND: Südleasing has ordered 20 Siemens Mobility Vectron multi-system electric locomotives which will be leased by SBB Cargo International under a long-term contract with a flexible term. The locos are to be equipped with the XLoad package to increase haulage capacity, and approved for operation in ...
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NewsÖBB awards €100m ETCS upgrading contract
AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways has awarded Alstom a €100m framework contract covering the upgrading of ETCS onboard equipment on 449 vehicles by 2030. This will include Railjet trainsets and locomotives. There is an initial firm order covering 195 trains, which Alstom will upgrade to ETCS Baseline ...
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Metro Report InternationalArt and architecture mark Napoli metro Line 6’s return
ITALY: Napoli metro Line 6 reopened on July 17, 11 years after services were suspended. The original 2·3 km line west from Mergellina to Mostra has been extended in tunnel 3·1 km towards the city centre at Municipio, where there is interchange with Line 1. The ...
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NewsPorto – Lisboa high speed project and Rail Baltica lead latest Connecting Europe Facility grant allocations
EUROPE: Rail projects are to receive 80% of the €7bn of Connecting Europe Facility co-financing grant funding announced by the European Commission on July 17. Schemes covered include Rail Baltica, the Lyon – Torino and Brenner tunnel corridors, numerous ERTMS deployments and work to better integrate ...
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NewsRail transport to beat road congestion and driver shortages
EUROPE: In response to ongoing lorry driver shortages and frequent road congestion at European borders including Turkey-Bulgaria, logistics company Cargo-Partner has introduced a range of intermodal services using rail for the long-distance leg. The Nippon Express Group subsidiary makes use of 45 ft pallet wide containers ...
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NewsBayern to award electric-hydrogen-battery tilting train operating contract
GERMANY: Bayern railway authority BEG has launched the process of selecting a company to operate Allgäu regional passenger services using a future fleet of emission-free tilting multiple units which would be able to use overhead electric, hydrogen and battery power. The services are currently operated by ...
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NewsChina postpones delivery of electric locos to Belarus
BELARUS: Chinese manufacturer CRRC Datong has postponed the delivery of 15 BKG2 single-section AC electric freight locomotives to Belarus Railway, citing the use of western components now subject to EU and US sanctions on Belarus. The BKG2 is derived from the domestic HXD2 locomotive design. This ...