High speed rail industry news – Page 2
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NewsSNCF Voyageurs plans to launch open access high speed train services in Italy
ITALY: French national passenger operator SNCF Voyageurs has announced plans to launch open access high speed train services within Italy from 2026, with the target of obtaining a 15% market share by 2030. SNCF Voyageurs Italia has applied to infrastructure manager RFI for access rights for ...
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In depthAustralia: Sydney – Newcastle plan marks another high speed attempt
Australia’s High Speed Rail Authority has been tasked with drawing up proposals for a new line between Sydney and Newcastle, as the first step in developing a 1 750 km route linking urban and regional centres along the East Coast corridor.
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In depthAir-Rail Links: Better connectivity would benefit southeast Asia
A report by the Aviation Studies Institute of Singapore University of Technology & Design recommends replacing short-haul air routes by high speed lines in southeast Asia to improve sustainability. It also finds that airport-rail links in the region are less common than elsewhere and that better rail connectivity would yield benefits.
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NewsHigh speed train start-up Proxima announces €1bn launch plan
FRANCE: High speed rail start-up Proxima has announced a €1bn plan backed by investor Antin Infrastructure Partners to acquire 12 Alstom trainsets and launch open access services from Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes and Angers to Paris. Proxima has been established by former Voyages SNCF CEO Rachel Picard, ...
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Rail Business UKLiverpool – Manchester Railway Board created to push for construction of new line
UK: A Liverpool – Manchester Railway Board has been launched by the two cities’ metro mayors and other stakeholders to lead the development of proposals for a high speed line between the conurbations. The government has said that up to £17bn is to be made available for the new line ...
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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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NewsJapanese high speed rail freight services expand
JAPAN: The increasing use of high speed passenger trains to carry light freight was highlighted by a fair at Tokyo station on May 17 where products now being transported to the capital by Shinkansen were available for purchase. The rail services have benefited from a national ...
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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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Rail Business UKHigh Speed: Birmingham prepares to welcome truncated HS2
Viaducts, depot sites and tunnels are taking shape at the Birmingham end of the 225 km High Speed 2 route. But doubts over completion of what was Phase I of the curtailed scheme continue to swirl. Nick Kingsley reports from Washwood Heath.
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Rail Business UKHS2 Phase 2b formally scrapped in favour of Liverpool – Manchester railway
UK: A vote in parliament on the evening of May 21 brought a formal end to work on the Crewe to Manchester leg of HS2.
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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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NewsVelaro EGY high speed train for Egypt on test
Source: Siemens Mobility EGYPT: The first of the Velaro EGY high speed trainsets which Siemens Mobility is to supply to Egypt is undergoing dynamic testing at the Wegberg-Wildenrath circuit in Germany ahead of delivery later this year. Siemens said the start of testing marked ‘a big ...
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NewsEurostar plans to acquire 50 ‘fully interoperable’ trains
EUROPE: International high speed train operator Eurostar says it is ‘preparing to invest’ in up to 50 high speed trainsets, which would be fully interoperable ’across five countries and beyond’. The new trains would enter service from the early 2030s, replacing the 17 PBKA and nine ...
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NewsChizhou – Huangshan high speed line opens
CHINA: The 125 km Chizhou – Huangshan high speed line through the mountains and valleys of Anhui province opened on April 26. The 350 km/h route is designated as a regional connecting line within the ‘eight vertical and eight horizontal’ national high speed rail development strategy. ...
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NewsKTX-CheongRyong high speed train enters service
SOUTH KOREA: Korail put its latest generation of high speed train into commercial service on May 1. Two eight-car KTX-CheongRyong trainsets are now diagrammed to operate on the Gyeongbu high speed line and on the Honam line, offering passengers journey times of 2 h 17 min ...
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NewsSiemens presents Egyptian Desiro as high speed rail construction progresses
EGYPT: Siemens Mobility presented one of the 94 Desiro HC electric multiple-units that it is supplying for Egypt to the international press at its Wegberg-Wildenrath Test & Validation Centre on May 8. A consortium of Siemens, Orascom Construction and The Arab Contractors was awarded a turnkey ...
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NewsMurcia del Carmen station fit-out contract awarded
SPAIN: High speed rail infrastructure manager ADIF Alta Velocidad has awarded Ferrovial and Acciona a €164m contract to fit out the new Murcia del Carmen station. The contract announced on May 3 covers building interiors, platform furniture and landscaping, as well as the installation of non-railway ...
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NewsLas Vegas – California high speed train supplier selected
USA: Private sector project promoter Brightline West has named Siemens Mobility as preferred bidder to supply 355 km/h electric trainsets for its planned high speed line between Las Vegas and California. The order, which is still to be finalised, would cover 10 American Pioneer 220 trainsets ...
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NewsSNCF unveils TGV-M livery
FRANCE: SNCF Voyageurs and supplier Alstom have revealed the colour scheme for the operator’s future fleet of TGV-M trainsets.
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NewsONCF seeks to complete Kénitra – Marrakech high speed line before 2030 World Cup
MOROCCO: National operator ONCF is stepping up the pace of planning and preliminary construction work for the 40bn dirhams high speed line between Kénitra and Marrakech. Due to open between September and November 2029 in time for the FIFA World Cup being staged the following year ...