Ireland and France work on single combined rail-ferry ticket
To promote sustainable travel between the two countries, Ireland and France plan to launch a ticket that combines French and Irish trains with a ferry ticket. It will be available by the summer of 2023.Read more
Eurostar might not be driving home for Christmas
Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) will stage a walkout on December 16, 18, 22 and 23 in a dispute over salaries, the union announces on Wednesday. RMT warns...Read more
First H2-powered freight train developed by Alstom to transport H2O
Rolling stock manufacturer Alstom will develop a hydrogen-powered freight train Nestlé Waters France. Energy company Engie will provide the hydrogen. The train running on hydrogen fuel (H2) for the first- and last mile will transport...Read more
France considers price cap for rail tickets with rising inflation
French transport minister Clément Beaune is working with SNCF to establish a tariff cap for rail tickets to make sure the increase remains lower than the inflation, he said on French television this week. The...Read more
Thalys services between Brussels and Paris severely disrupted
Thalys is forced to cancel a host of planned trains between Brussels and Paris on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the high-speed operator announced on Friday. Earlier that day, the 09:15 from Amsterdam to Paris...Read more
European Sleeper’s winter night train to France put off
European Sleeper and travel organisation Sunweb will not be able to offer their planned night train service to the French Alps this winter, the companies announced on Thursday. Too many obstacles remain for a timely...Read more
France seems to welcome competition on the rails, yet new services keep getting postponed
AnalysisOnly one competitor to the state-owned railways SNCF currently runs trains on the French network. This is Italy’s Trenitalia, which has been running on the Paris-Lyon-Milan axis since 2020. Although there are quite some plans...Read more
Adif plans standard gauge conversion for section connecting to France
Adif has awarded a contract for the preparations for switching the 138-kilometre long Huesca-Canfranc line in Spain to the standard gauge. It is part of an effort to reopen a cross-border railway across the Pyrenees...Read more
Fully automated metros introduced on line 4 in Paris
Since this week, passengers on metro line 4 in Paris can board fully automated metros. Equipped by Siemens Mobility, four automated vehicles with CBTC signaling at GoA 4 have entered service, and more will be...Read more
Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking awards first research and innovation grants
The very first call for proposals for rail research and innovation activities by Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking will see six project receive a total of 568,4 million euros in funding. The projects will involve more...Read more
Network access dispute involving SNCF Reseau resolved
With a decision published on 6 September, the Autorité de Régulation des Transports (ART) resolved a dispute concerning “the technical conditions and operations for access to the railway network”. The French authority decided in favour...Read more
French government calls for ‘energy sobriety’ from SNCF not fewer trains
While the French government has called on SNCF to make energy savings in response to the current crisis, it has not requested that the state railway utility prepare to run fewer trains this winter in...Read more
Railway line between Avignon and Nîmes reopens after almost 50 years
The French towns of Pont-Saint-Esprit, Avignon and Nîmes are once more connected via rail following the reopening of a railway line after 49 years of closure. It also marks the first reopening of a regional...Read more