Quintus Vosman

DUTCH rail freight operators achieved high levels of growth last year according to a new report from infrastructure manager Prorail, which shows volumes increased 6% by both train-km (9.3 million) and tonne-km (13.6 billion) in 2015, with most of the growth occurring in the second half of the year.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has directly awarded Siemens and Bombardier a contract to upgrade its fleet of 131 Sprinter Light Train (SLT) EMUs, which were originally supplied by the two manufacturers in 2007-2012, to comply with the Technical Specification for Interoperability for Persons With Reduced Mobility (PRM-TSI).

THE first Stadler Flirt 3 EMUs for Netherlands Railways (NS) arrived in the Netherlands on March 29, when three sets were moved by rail from the Dutch-German border station at Herzogenrath to Maastricht.

LOWER Saxony Transport Authority (LNVG) has published a tender notice in the Official Journal of the European Union for a contract to operate a revived passenger service on the Bentheim Railway (BE).

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has unveiled a new company strategy for 2016-2019, entitled 'Better at full speed,' which aims to regain public trust and secure NS's position in the Dutch railway market up to and beyond 2025.

THE Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure for the German state of Baden-Württemberg and the state's public transport authority NVBW have published a tender in the Official Journal of the European Union for regional train operations on the Bad Krozingen - Münstertal branch line in the Black Forest.

ARRIVA is due to begin operation of a new semi-fast service between Prague main station, Czech Republic, and Benešov u Prahy on February 29.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) turnover for 2015 increased by 20% to €4973m – but profits fell by €62m to €118m.

THE driver of an Arriva Stadler 2/8 EMU was killed after the train hit a mobile crane on a level crossing at Dalfsen on the Zwolle-Emmen line at 09.00 CET.

NETHERLANDS RAILWAYS (NS) is to operate peak-hour bus services from today in an effort to relieve overcrowding on its busiest rail services.