How a communications failure crippled the Dutch rail network
The majority of rail traffic in the Netherlands came to a standstill on Monday afternoon due to a malfunction in ProRail’s communication system. Communication between train drivers and train traffic control was blocked. Train traffic...Read more
Finland introduces new train driver assistance
Starting this spring, Finnish operator VR introduces a Driver Assistance System (DAS) that assists the locomotive drivers in passenger and freight trains. Using machine learning, the DAS helps to optimise train driving, increase energy efficiency,...Read more
Finnish Railways implements future-oriented solution for staff
After optimising its ticketing policy, Finnish incumbent railway company VR Group has focused on improving internal operational processes. To this end, the national operator implemented a new, future-oriented solution to enhance planning and dispatching of...Read more
SBB lacks train drivers due to corona crisis
Swiss national railway operator SBB is not able to relaunch its normal schedule. The company lacks train drivers due to some delays, caused by the corona crisis, in its recruitment and training campaigns. SBB will...Read more
Pilot with remotely controlled red signal: train drivers react positively
Since last year, ProRail, the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), Strukton Rail and DB Cargo, in conjunction with Dual Inventive, have been carrying out a pilot with a remotely controlled red signal in...Read more
Positive trend for women in rail sector
Women account for 21.41 per cent of the railway staff in Europe. Such a conclusion has been made by the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF)...Read more
Norwegian Railways dismisses 1,100 staff due to lockdown
Norwegian railway operator Vy has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the imposed restrictions, the company lose over 80 per cent of its passengers. As a result, Vy is dismissing more than 1,100...Read more
Deutsche Bahn hires 25,000 new employees
German national railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) intends to hire 25,000 new employees in 2020. It is a record level for DB’s recruitment campaigns. This figure includes 4,700 young professionals. Train drivers, maintenance workers, IT...Read more
Virtual passenger gives driver feedback about comfort
Ricardo Rail has devised a small meter called the ‘Comfort Coach’ that shows the train, tram or metro drivers how their passengers are feeling during a journey. In the first quarter of 2020, Ricardo Rail...Read more
European rail sector requires more female employees
To address the lack of staff, the European rail sector should recruit more female employees. Therefore, Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), representing railway sector employers, and European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), representing...Read more
‘Humans are Achilles heel in rail sector’
To implement more innovative and digital solutions is the urgent goal for the rail sector in the near future. This will allow the industry to solve two key problems: reduce the number of delays and...Read more
Keolis loses contract for Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn service
German transport authority VRR covering the Rhine-Ruhr conurbation has prematurely broken off a contract with Eurobahn, a subsidiary of Keolis. It was expected that the railway operator will start to provide train service on two...Read moreDutch government: ‘train drivers sometimes lack competence’
The safety on railways in the Netherlands could be increased. This was the message of the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), which presented several reports with recommendations to the government on Tuesday. The...Read more