Rail News

A new rail franchise has been created which will combine both the InterCity West Coast franchise and HS2, the UK government has announced. The West Coast Partnership franchise will start in 2019 and will incorporate HS2 services when the line...

Bombardier has opened a new 20,000 square meter production centre at its Wroclaw factory in Poland which will build the body shells for DB's ICE4 fleet. Following approval by German authorities, Siemens and Bombardier are going into full production with...

MTR is to begin a phased programme to double the capacity on its Ma On Shan Line from early 2017 by converting its four-car trains to eight-car units. The first two eight-car trains will go into service early next year,...

Femern A/S has released a list of companies it has pre-qualified to bid for two framework contracts covering consultancy services for the Fehmarnbelt fixed link. The two lots include client consultancy services up to and during the construction phase through to...

The NSW Government is to spend $50 million to "speed up" the replacement of the NSW TrainLink network's ageing XPT fleet. NSW's state government is hoping to accelerate the replacement of older rolling stock, starting with the XPTs, which have...

SBB has announced that from November 11 all its ticket machines will sell the online currency Bitcoin. Still an unknown concept for many, Bitcoin is an online, decentralised currency that is gradually gaining acceptance around the world. Working with distribution partner SweePay, a regulated...

The railways are well known for keeping old technology going. With the cost of new trains, and a design life of around 40 years, it’s not surprising that some aren’t in the first flush of youth. And that doesn’t just apply...

Russian Railways (RZD) is to begin operating a new Moscow to Berlin service in December using variable gauge Talgo trainsets. At 13:05 on December 17, the new service will leave Moscow for Berlin, arriving 20 hours 14 minutes later. This is four-and-a-half hours...

CAF has started work on the body shell of the first of 66 Mark 5A carriages it is building for TransPennine Express (TPE). The carriages, which will form 13 five-car trains, are being financed by Beacon Rail and will be hauled...

DB Regio has signed a deal with Alstom worth €130 million for 24 three and four-car Coradia Continental EMUs. The new regional trains, which will be produced at Alstom's factory in Salzgitter, will operate on the Breisgau S-Bahn network and are...