High speed rail industry news – Page 4
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Rail Business UKHS2 route no longer protected from development
UK: The government has formally lifted the planning protection which had been put in place to safeguard the route of the now-cancelled Phase 2a of High Speed 2 between the West Midlands and Crewe. Land close to Handsacre will continue to be safeguarded to allow HS2 ...
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NewsRENFE28 management strategy approved
SPAIN: Innovation, digitalisation, boosting public services, leadership in the high speed market, profitability of the freight sector and the improvement of production processes are key objectives outlined in the RENFE28 management strategy which was approved by the national operator’s board on January 12. The four-year plan ...
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NewsSeven consortia submit Kuala Lumpur – Singapore High Speed Rail proposals
MALAYSIA: Seven consortia comprising 31 companies submitted concept proposals for the revived Kuala Lumpur – Singapore High Speed Rail project by the January 15 deadline. The request for information issued by the Ministry of Finance-owned project promoter MyHSR Corp in July 2023 invited local and international ...
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NewsNetwork Rail Consulting awarded California high speed rail contract
USA: The consultancy arm of British infrastructure manager Network Rail has been awarded a $73·2m contract to provide rail systems engineering services to the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Network Rail Consulting will be supported by subconsultants Egis and Ricardo, as well as local companies C2PM DR ...
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NewsJR Central develops automated Shinkansen overhead line checks
JAPAN: Central Japan Railway has developed an automated overhead line inspection system that can be fitted to series-built trains used on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Able to check the position of wires and the condition of fittings while trains are travelling at up to 300 km/h, the ...
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NewsCalifornian high speed train shortlist announced
USA: The California High-Speed Rail Authority has shortlisted two qualified bidders for a planned contract to supply high speed trainsets for the project. They are Alstom Transportation Inc and Siemens Mobility Inc. The authority expects to release the request for proposals in the coming months, followed ...
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NewsFinland’s VR takes over Helsinki – St Petersburg Allegro train fleet
FINLAND: National operator VR has taken over the four Sm6 trainsets which its Karelian Trains joint venture with Russian Railways previously used on Helsinki – St Petersburg services. The seven-car dual-voltage Alstom Pendolino tilting trainsets were used on the international service from 2010 until operations were ...
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NewsMore high speed sets in ONCF rolling stock order
MOROCCO: National operator ONCF has called tenders for a fleet of 168 trainsets worth a total of 16bn dirhams. Expressions of interest had been sought in September 2022, generating 10 responses. The contract which is due to be signed by July 31 2024 is in three ...
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NewsDeutsche Bahn calls tenders for next generation of ICE high speed trains
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has called tenders for the development and supply of its next generation of InterCity Express high speed trainsets, with entry into service planned for the early 2030s. DB said the fifth generation ICE trainsets would set new standards for energy efficiency, reliability and ...
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NewsChange in safety rules opens door to more cross-Channel operators
EUROPE: Eurotunnel is working with rolling stock suppliers and safety authorities to simplify the standards that apply to cross-Channel rail traffic as part of its aim to double the number of high speed passenger trains using the Channel Tunnel by the end of 2033.
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NewsPajares cut-off opens to plug Asturias into Spanish high speed network
SPAIN: Following almost 20 years of construction, public passenger services began using the Pajares Base Tunnel through the Cordillera Cantábrica mountain range in the north of the country on November 30.
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NewsIryo reports strong first year as Spanish high speed traffic grows again
SPAIN: Iryo carried 5·2 million passengers at an average load factor of more than 65% in its first year of operation.
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NewsStart-up announces Amsterdam to London and Paris high speed train ambitions
Source: Nikolay/Pixabay EUROPE: A proposal to launch high speed train services from Amsterdam to London and from Groningen to Paris has been announced by Dutch start-up Heuro, while Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson is also reported to be looking at competing with Eurostar on cross-Channel routes. ...
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NewsTrenitalia orders high speed trains equipped to reach the Netherlands
ITALY: Hitachi Rail has signed a €861m contract to supply Trenitalia with a further 30 ETR1000 high speed trainsets. There is a €287m option for another 10 in addition. Announcing the order on November 10, Hitachi said the trainsets with a design speed of 350 km/h ...
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NewsPoland’s CPK sets out plans to buy more than 100 trainsets
POLAND: The government has approved high speed rail and airport project promoter Centralny Port Komunikacyjny’s rolling stock strategy, which envisages the purchase of more than 100 electric multiple-units. CPK’s expenditure on rolling stock in 2024-30 is estimated at 8·7bn złoty at H1 2023 prices, and 16-20bn ...
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NewsALSA and Eco Rail explore high speed rail possibilities
SPAIN: Bus operator ALSA is exploring opportunities to operate high speed passenger services in partnership with Andalucían company Eco Rail, one of the companies that missed out on ADIF’s first round of train path allocations in 2019. The two companies have spent the past three years ...
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NewsKuala Lumpur – Singapore high speed rail proposal deadline extended
ASIA: The deadline for potential bidders to submit proposals for undertaking the revived Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project has been extended to January 15 2024. On November 7 Malaysian project promoter MyHSR Corp said more than 60% of the companies which had indicated their intention ...
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NewsRevised California high speed rail track and electrification design RFQ issued
USA: California High-Speed Rail Authority has released a new request for qualifications for a contract to provide design services for the track and overhead electrification systems. The contract has an estimated value of up to $131·2m, plus options. It would cover high-level designs for track and ...
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NewsICE 3neo interior offers ‘living room atmosphere and comfort at 300 km/h’
GERMANY: The first of Deutsche Bahn’s ICE 3neo high speed trainsets to be fitted with a redesigned interior has entered passenger service. Siemens Mobility is supplying DB Fernverkehr with a total of 90 ICE3neo trainsets. The first 16 which began entering service from December 2022 have ...
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In depthComment: UK turns its back on rail growth
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to abandon the remaining phases of the High Speed 2 programme reflects the UK government’s growing antipathy to rail investment and equivocation about climate targets, leaving Britain’s railway without a clear plan for future expansion.