European Rail News #32
Apr 5th, 2006 | 07:52 AM
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European Rail News #32
News and developments of the ever improving European train system:
NEW ITALIAN HIGH-SPEED LINES OPEN
Commerical services on the new 204.65 km Rome-Naples high-speed line commenced Jan 23, 2006, albeit with only two daily services rather than the eight previsioned. (Leaving Rome at 10:25 and 18:25, leaving Naples at 8:10 and 16:10). timings are currently just a tad faster than the old main line Rome-Forma-Napoli but trains are said to be arriving often 10 minutes early.
Train sets used are refurbished ETR.500 sets. It's expected that service will be increased when trains used on the new Torino-Novara line for the Winter Olympics are shifted to the Rome-Naples line. the train has WiFi internet access and internet work stations.
NEW ITALIAN HIGH-SPEED LINES OPEN
Commerical services on the new 204.65 km Rome-Naples high-speed line commenced Jan 23, 2006, albeit with only two daily services rather than the eight previsioned. (Leaving Rome at 10:25 and 18:25, leaving Naples at 8:10 and 16:10). timings are currently just a tad faster than the old main line Rome-Forma-Napoli but trains are said to be arriving often 10 minutes early.
Train sets used are refurbished ETR.500 sets. It's expected that service will be increased when trains used on the new Torino-Novara line for the Winter Olympics are shifted to the Rome-Naples line. the train has WiFi internet access and internet work stations.
Apr 5th, 2006 | 09:07 AM
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MALPENSA AIRPORT GETS NEW TRAIN SERVICE WITH OPENING OF TORINO-NOVARA HIGH-SPEED LINE
With the opening on the new high-speed line Torino-Novara there are now trains from Malpensa Airport to Torino PN station, though currently limited to a few a day. Service is by ETR500 trains. Trains leave Malpensa Airport daily at 10:40 and 20:40, taking 1.5 hrs to get to Torino.
With the opening on the new high-speed line Torino-Novara there are now trains from Malpensa Airport to Torino PN station, though currently limited to a few a day. Service is by ETR500 trains. Trains leave Malpensa Airport daily at 10:40 and 20:40, taking 1.5 hrs to get to Torino.
Apr 5th, 2006 | 11:20 AM
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ANTWERP TUNNEL OPENING DELAYED
Converting Amsterdam Centraal station, one of Europe's grandest looking train sheds with its Art Nouveau decor, from a terminus to a station (terminus is dead-end) station is on a rail line that goes in at least two directions is behind schedule.
A new 3.8 km tunnel was supposed to open Dec 10, 2006 but has now been postponed to April 2007. The tunnel under Antwerp is a crucial link in the new high-speed line from Brussels to Amsterdam that is also supposed to open in 2007. Currently many express trains don't serve Antwerpen Centraal, but only stop at Antwerpen Berchem, two miles away in the southern suburbs - a shuttle train links Berchem to Centraal station. So in the future it'll be Brussels-Antwerp Centraal-Amsterdam.
Converting Amsterdam Centraal station, one of Europe's grandest looking train sheds with its Art Nouveau decor, from a terminus to a station (terminus is dead-end) station is on a rail line that goes in at least two directions is behind schedule.
A new 3.8 km tunnel was supposed to open Dec 10, 2006 but has now been postponed to April 2007. The tunnel under Antwerp is a crucial link in the new high-speed line from Brussels to Amsterdam that is also supposed to open in 2007. Currently many express trains don't serve Antwerpen Centraal, but only stop at Antwerpen Berchem, two miles away in the southern suburbs - a shuttle train links Berchem to Centraal station. So in the future it'll be Brussels-Antwerp Centraal-Amsterdam.
Apr 6th, 2006 | 07:22 AM
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WORLD CUP AND GERMAN RAIL
Germany is gearing up to meet the demands of thousands of football fans who will need to move around the country from venue to venue - it's expected that 43% of all fans will travel to matches by rail. To commemorate the games 214 ICE train sets will carry special branding for the World Cup since DB is an official sponsor and DB has plans to put 250 additional Ic and ICE services on the tracks to help serve extra demand to the 12 cities hosting the matches.
Germany is gearing up to meet the demands of thousands of football fans who will need to move around the country from venue to venue - it's expected that 43% of all fans will travel to matches by rail. To commemorate the games 214 ICE train sets will carry special branding for the World Cup since DB is an official sponsor and DB has plans to put 250 additional Ic and ICE services on the tracks to help serve extra demand to the 12 cities hosting the matches.
Apr 6th, 2006 | 10:17 AM
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CONNEX IS DEAD
The brand name Connex, used by the French utilities company Vivendi when it branched out to operate bus and train systems in various European countries, is being phased out in favor of the VEOLIA TRANSPORT monniker on the various trains, buses, trolleybuses, trams and ferries it operates in 27 countries. Brits may recoil at the Connex name due to two disastrous rail franchises the company ran before them being taken away because of poor management - one the old Network Southeast franchise in fact was returned to government ownership evoking the old British Rail. Brits can take solace in that the company says it has no plans to re-enter the U.K. market.
The brand name Connex, used by the French utilities company Vivendi when it branched out to operate bus and train systems in various European countries, is being phased out in favor of the VEOLIA TRANSPORT monniker on the various trains, buses, trolleybuses, trams and ferries it operates in 27 countries. Brits may recoil at the Connex name due to two disastrous rail franchises the company ran before them being taken away because of poor management - one the old Network Southeast franchise in fact was returned to government ownership evoking the old British Rail. Brits can take solace in that the company says it has no plans to re-enter the U.K. market.
