Scenic Plus coach refurbished for New Zealand tourist train service
NEW ZEALAND: National railway KiwiRail’s tourist train business Great Journeys New Zealand has unveiled a coach which has been refurbished to provide a premium ‘immersive travel experience’ on the 223 km TranzAlpine coast-to-coast service between Greymouth and Christchurch.
Capacity to be increased on Siberian main lines
RUSSIA: The government has given the go-ahead for the third stage of work to increase capacity on the Baikal – Amur and Trans-Siberian main lines.
RegioJet orders Škoda EMUs
CZECH REPUBLIC: RegioJet has awarded Škoda Group a KC3·5bn contract to supply 23 customised 160 km/h electric multiple-units.
Southeastern announces shortlist to supply ‘modern trains for a modern network’
UK: Southeastern has shortlisted five bidders for a contract to supply a fleet of 750 V DC third rail electric multiple-units for use on its ‘Metro’ network of suburban services in southeast London and Kent.
Prasa reports completion of resignalling schemes
SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has resignalled six suburban rail lines across the country, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga reported on April 24.
Philippines: New lines programme puts the metro in Manila
After years of stagnation, major investment in and expansion of the urban rail network in Manila is now on the horizon, with three new lines and one metro extension due to open by the end of the decade. Benjámin Zelki reports from the Filipino capital.
Korean company awarded Thai signalling contract
THAILAND: State Railway of Thailand has awarded South Korean company LS Electric a 32·7bn won contract to supply signalling for the 177 km railway under construction between Ban Phai and Nong Pok.