Quintus Vosman

The opening of the Amsterdam - Rotterdam - Antwerp HSL South high-speed line in 2009 failed to live up to expectations with the collapse of the Amsterdam - Brussels Fyra high-speed service in 2012, leaving Thalys as the sole operator. However, with the recent introduction of new services, the line is busy and, as Quintus Vosman reports, now requires investment to improve reliability.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has confirmed it is planning to boost seating capacity on domestic services on HSL South in addition to the previously-announced increase in frequencies to cope with a surge in passenger numbers.

CZECH Railways (ČD) has invited bids for contracts to equip 468 vehicles of 24 different types with ETCS.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) subsidiary NS International has confirmed it is planning to lease 12 multi-system Siemens Vectron locomotives for Amsterdam Central - Berlin East services.

CZECH Railways (CD) has launched an international tender for a framework contract to supply up to 50 dual-voltage EMUs for regional services.

AMSTERDAM Municipal Transport (GVB) has selected CAF as preferred bidder to supply 30 metro trains with an option for an additional 30 trains.

ELECTRIFICATION of the 6.5km cross-border link between Landgraaf, Netherlands, and Herzogenrath, Germany, was officially launched on April 17 by Mr Heiko Sedlaczek, director of Rhineland Local Transport, Mr Hubert Mackus, councillor for infrastructure and public transport for the Dutch province of Limburg and Mr Jan Mulder, deputy director, region south, for Dutch infrastructure manager Prorail.

THE first set of CAF Mk5A coaches for British operator TransPennine Express (TPE) was unveiled to the media at the Velim test centre in the Czech Republic on April 12.

CZECH and Slovak open-access operator Regiojet received its first two Traxx multi-system electric locomotives from Bombardier on April 14.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has launched a new smartphone app to help passengers travelling between Arnhem, Nijmegen and Den Bosch to locate available seats on trains.