FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) infrastructure division SNCF Infra has rolled out a new anti-wire theft device across its network. Developed by WiN MS, France, the device offers real-time monitoring of cable breaks, helping the infrastructure manager to quickly repair damage while minimising disruption.
FRANCE's network of conventional Intercity services is facing a "fragile and uncertain" future according the National Federation of Public Transport Associations (FNAUT), which warns that weak governance and uncertainty over funding threatens the existence of the network.
GERMAN Rail (DB) and French National Railways (SNCF) marked a milestone for international high-speed services between Germany and France on August 29, when they carried their 10 millionth passenger on their ICE and TGV services from Stuttgart and Frankfurt to Paris.
NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) could be poised to acquire a stake in Thalys, the operator of high-speed services between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, and Essen, according to reports in the Dutch media.
FRENCH Rail Regulator Araf has rejected plans for a rolling road service between Pas-de-Calais and the Spanish border because it believes the concession structure adopted for the project could harm competition and risks impacting the performance of passenger services.
THE rail strike in June and France's continuing sluggish economy caused French National Railways (SNCF) to report a 74% drop in net profit to €224m for the first half of 2014 compared with a net profit of €865m for the first half of 2013.
THE French Senate definitively adopted the findings of the parliamentary joint committee (CMP) on draft legislation on railway reform in one of the final steps in the legislative process before the bill becomes law.
THREE investigations have been launched in France following a rear-end collision on July 17 between a TER passenger train and a TGV at Denguin, 14km west of Pau on the Tarbes - Dax main line.
DRAFT legislation to restructure the French railway industry was passed by the country's Senate on July 10 with 188 votes for and 150 against the bill.
THE CEO of French National Railways (SNCF) long-distance subsidiary SNCF Voyages Mrs Barbara Dalibard announced on July 8 that a direct TGV service will be launched between Strasbourg and Brussels following the completion of the second phase of TGV Est in 2016.
