Quintus Vosman

REGIOJET’s long-distance services carried 2.76 million passengers in the first half of 2018, a new record for the Czech and Slovakian open-access operator and more than 600,000 more than in the same period in 2017, an increase of 26% on its yearly average.

THE Dutch rail network is set for a new train kilometre record, with the 2019 timetable showing an expansion of train services. However, infrastructure manager Prorail warns the increase is making it increasingly difficult to allocate track capacity among train operators on the Dutch network.

SAXONY’s Oberelbe Transport Authority (VVO) has invited Bombardier and the Technical University of Berlin to prepare a feasibility study into the potential operation of Battery Electric Multiple Units (BEMUs) on non-electrified routes in the south of the German state.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) says it is satisfied with its results and performance in the first half of 2018, with more trains operating and passenger numbers continuing to increase. Financial results are also improving, but NS is closely following the developments of Brexit and the potential effects it could have on its business in Britain through its Abellio subsidiary.

CZECH Railways (ČD) has launched an international tender for up to 120 new trains with an estimated value of up to Koruna 14.8bn ($US 650m) as it seeks to strengthen its position in readiness for the competitive tendering of regional services in the Czech Republic.

THE first modernised Netherlands Railways (NS) Sprinter Light Train (SLT) EMU, and the first of the fleet to be equipped with a toilet, returned to service on August 9.

CZECH rail freight operator ČD Cargo has confirmed it will order 10 Traxx MS3 multi-system electric locomotives from Bombardier together with four additional Siemens Vectron MS locomotives, supplementing the eight units already in service.

DUTCH infrastructure manager Prorail says painting level crossing surfaces yellow could improve safety following a successful trial at Baarn on the Amsterdam - Amersfoort line.

MORE than 15 years after the start of construction, Amsterdam’s North-South Line metro line (Line 52) was finally inaugurated on July 21, when eight residents of the city officially opened the line in the presence of the city’s mayor, Mrs Femke Halsema.

PUNCTUALITY on the Dutch network, excluding high-speed, improved to 92.1% in the first quarter of 2018, an all-time record for the network.