High speed rail industry news – Page 9
Via Vindobona deal promises 4 h Berlin – Wien timing
GERMANY: Plans for a dramatic acceleration of inter-city passenger services between the capital cities of Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria were outlined at the third German Rail Summit held virtually on May 17. Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer highlighted plans agreed by the three countries in ...
SNCF launches Ouigo high speed services in Spain
SPAIN: The first fare-paying passengers were due to board Ouigo services on the morning of May 10 as SNCF's low-cost high speed rail subsidiary entered the Spanish domestic market, competing with RENFE on the Madrid – Barcelona route.
UK: HS2 progress overshadowed by coronavirus and controversy
While construction of HS2's initial phase between London and the West Midlands is forging ahead despite local protests, completion of the 540 km 'Y network' as originally outlined in 2010 now appears much less certain. Nick Kingsley reports.
UK: HS2 enters the delivery stage
After years of parliamentary scrutiny, the initial phases of High Speed 2 are now firmly under construction, with the railway initially expected to link London with Crewe from 2033, as HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Thurston explains.
Texas high speed rail developer signs $1·6bn electrical systems contract
USA: Dallas – Houston high speed rail project promoter Texas Central Railroad has signed a $1·6bn contract for Kiewit and its Mass Electric Construction subsidiary to install the core electrical systems for the proposed line. This would include the traction power, signalling and communications equipment for ...
ETCS tests underway as next section of Galician high speed line nears opening
SPAIN: ETCS Level 2 validation testing began on April 26 on a recently completed 104 route-km section of high speed line through the mountains between Pedralba de la Pradería and Taboadela.
Le Train eyes Arcachon – La Rochelle TGVs
FRANCE: Taking advantage of the forthcoming liberalisation of domestic passenger services, open access operator Le Train has applied to transport regulation authority ART for powers to run regional high speed services in the southwest. Envisaged as the first private high speed operator in France, evoking parallels with ...
Castex agrees to fund Bordeaux – Toulouse high speed line
FRANCE: The French government will contribute €4·1bn to help finance the long-planned high speed line between Bordeaux and Toulouse, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on April 28. Toulouse is France's fourth largest city and the capital of the Occitanie region. It would be the last major conurbation ...
Rail Baltica concept trains inspired by sun, sea and sand
EUROPE: Rail Baltica project promoter RB Rail has produced conceptual images to help inform the public about the type of trains which could link Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with Poland and western Europe using the future standard gauge line. The concepts are intended to inform the ...
Seikan tunnel Shinkansen speed-up saves 3 min
JAPAN: Selected Shinkansen services through the twin-track 53∙9 km Seikan Tunnel between Honshu and Hokkaido will be permitted to run at 210 km/h during the May 3-6 'Golden Week' holiday period, saving 3 min on the trip between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.
Malaysia reimburses Singapore for cancelled high speed rail project
ASIA: The government of Malaysia has paid S$102·8m to reimburse the government of Singapore for costs it incurred in developing plans for a 350 km high speed railway between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia decided last year not to go ahead with the project, explaining it ...
Indian high speed line track design MoU signed
INDIA: National High Speed Rail Corp Ltd and Japan Railway Track Consultants Co have signed a memorandum of understanding covering track design for the 237 km Vadodara – Vapi package T2 section of the planned Mumbai – Ahmedabad high speed rail corridor. JRTC is to provide ...
Rail Business UK
Royal Assent for Phase 2a takes High Speed 2 to Crewe
UK: The HS2 Phase 2a: High Speed Rail (West Midlands to Crewe) Bill obtained Royal Assent on February 11, granting legal powers for the construction and operation of the 58 km section of high speed line between Fradley near Lichfield and Crewe. Project promoter HS2 Ltd ...
Lianyungang – Ürümqi high speed corridor completed
CHINA: The 185 km Xulian high speed line between Lianyungang and Xuzhou in eastern China was opened for revenue service on February 8. This completes the 3 422 km Lianyungang – Ürümqi corridor, which is the longest east-west route within the 'eight vertical and eight horizontal' ...
Single-track corridor to launch Californian high speed service by 2030
USA: California High Speed Rail Authority's Revised Draft Business Plan envisages the completion of a 270 km 'interim service line' which would initially be mostly single track, and sets out revised cost and ridership estimates for the project.
Talgo confirms work underway to approve Avril trains for use in France
EUROPE: Work is underway to obtain approval for Talgo's Avril high speed train design to operate in France, the manufacturer has confirmed. The announcement on February 3 came as the first Avril trainset for RENFE began dynamic type testing runs on the recently opened high ...
Beijing – Chengde opening completes Beijing – Harbin high speed rail corridor
CHINA: The 192 km Beijing Chaoyang –- Chengde high speed line opened on January 22, completing the 1 198 km Beijing – Shenyang – Harbin corridor. There are initially 12 trains a day each way on the latest section, operated by CR400BF-G trainsets running at 300 km/h, ...
Spanish high speed network reaches Orihuela
SPAIN: The first phase of a corridor linking Madrid with Murcia opened on February 1, with the inauguration of a 38∙3 km section of high speed line between Monforte del Cid and Orihuela.
DfT revisits Euston plans as pressure mounts over HS2's Eastern Leg
UK: An agenda for the Transport for London board meeting on February 5, issued in late January, indicates that the Department for Transport intends to proceed with changes to the layout of the High Speed 2 terminus at London Euston and the construction phasing.
Call for Eurostar trains to be made available to support on-rail competition
EUROPE: The ALLRAIL association of new entrants to the rail market has said any government support which might be offered to Eurostar during the coronavirus pandemic should be accompanied by conditions designed to facilitate cross-Channel competition.