Quintus Vosman

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has exercised a second and final option with Bombardier for eight additional class 186 Traxx multi-system electric locomotives, taking its fleet to 45 units.

PUBLIC transport companies in the Netherlands are planning to abolish cash payment for bus and tram tickets, following a significant rise in robberies.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has selected Alstom as preferred bidder in the best and final offer phase for a contract to supply a fleet of 200km/h EMUs under its Intercity New Generation (ICNG) programme.

CZECH open-access passenger operator Regiojet is planning to launch a new service between Prague and the Slovakian capital Bratislava.

PRORAIL has submitted its 2015 performance figures to Dutch secretary of state for infrastructure Mrs Sharon Dijksma, revealing that infrastructure-related train delays on the Dutch main line network fell last year.

CENTRAL Saxony Transport Authority (ZVMS) has confirmed it intends to directly award a contract for the operation of the Erzgebirge Diesel Network to incumbent operator DB Regio.

TENDERS have been published in Official Journal of the European Union for concessions to operate regional passenger train services in the German state of Thüringia and the Rhine-Rhur area.

THE troubled procurement of regional train and bus services in the Dutch province of Limburg overcame its final legal obstacle on April 14 when incumbent operator Veolia Transport Nederland dropped its appeal against the decision to award the concession to Arriva.

BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG public transport authority NVBW has launched international tenders for three regional contracts with a combined volume of more than 2 million train-km per year.

THE Dutch government is planning to bring Prorail under direct control of the Ministry of Infrastructure and end the infrastructure manager's current status as an independent (albeit state-owned) company operating under private law, according to draft ministry policy papers which have been leaked to the Dutch media.