Latest news – Page 5
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NewsTransnet obtains US$1bn loan to stabilise South African rail network
SOUTH AFRICA: The African Development Bank has approved a US$1bn corporate loan to support national rail, port and logistics company Transnet’s business recovery plan, and is considering two targeted grants. The 25-year government-guaranteed loan approved on July 12 will facilitate the first phase of Transnet’s US$8·1bn ...
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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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Metro Report InternationalMail by metro train trial
SINGAPORE: Singapore Post and operator SMRT are testing the use of metro trains for moving post. SingPost ‘mail ambassadors’ will travel from collection points at Tampines and Raffles Place stations to the sorting facility near Paya Lebar station, travelling on off-peak East-West Line services between 11.00 ...
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Rail Business UKTrain operator says WhatsApp service has saved 1 277 h of employee time
UK: Train operator Northern says its entirely AI-operated Whatsapp enquiry service has received 8 000 messages from customers in the first year of operation, which has freed-up 1 277 h of employee time. People can ask for live train times, service updates and disruption information, as well ...
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NewsDesert train air-conditioning units delivered
UAE: Liebherr Transportation Systems (China) has supplied heating, ventilation & air-conditioning units for three push-pull trainsets which Etihad Rail ordered from CRRC Qingdao Sifang last year. Each trainset will comprise a diesel locomotive, five intermediate passenger cars and a driving trailer coach. They have a design ...
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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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In depthKazakhstan: Transit freight drives KTZ expansion
New line construction and fleet renewals have cemented Kazakhstan’s position as a key node in the Eurasian transit market. Further expansion is now in hand, with more investment planned by 2030, reports Vladimir Waldin.
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Rail Business UKStudy aims to reduce tram-train cost and complexity
UK: The Institute of Railway Research at the University of Huddersfield is leading a study which brings together industry and academia to promote the benefits of the tram-train concept and address a lack of standardisation. The project aims to address ‘not only the engineering challenges associated ...
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NewsGuardian of the Nile luxury cruise train planned
EGYPT: Italian high-end hospitality company Arsenale and Egyptian National Railways have signed heads of terms for the launch of a Guardian of the Nile luxury cruise train in 2027. It is Arsenale’s fourth international rail cruise project, following announcements in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Uzbekistan. ...
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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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Rail Business UKFive electrified railway lines at risk from climate change
UK: The 25 kV 50 Hz overhead equipment on five sections of railway needs ‘immediate assessment and renewal’ to address the threat to reliability posed by climate change, according to electrification engineering company Furrer+Frey. The latest update to the company’s Climate Resilience in Rail Electrification report ...
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NewsUIC World Congress on High Speed Rail to be held in Beijing
CHINA: The International Union of Railways and China Railway have announced that the 12th World Congress on High Speed Rail will take place in Beijing on July 8-11 2025, with the theme of ‘High speed rail: innovation and development for a better life’. The event is ...
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NewsKorail seals deal with China Railway to speed up Asia – Europe freight flows
INTERNATIONAL: Korea Railroad Corp has signed an agreement with China National Railway Group to facilitate freight shipments between South Korea, Central Asia and Europe.
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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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Metro Report InternationalSingapore metro operator co-develops diplomas to upskill staff
SINGAPORE: SMRT Trains and Nanyang Polytechnic have co-created two diplomas to support the development of talent for the transport sector. The 2½-year part-time Diploma in Engineering (Public Transport Operations) course which is to start in October is designed to upskill existing staff and provide opportunities for ...