Europe News

Latest news and developments from Europe region

• WMCA sanctions bids for government funds to invest in transit services, UK

  September 20, 2021
  The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has sanctioned bids for two government funds that when combined with local funds are expected to fetch a total investment of up to GBP2 billion for transport in the region, over the next five years.

• TfL to procure only zero-emission buses, UK

  September 17, 2021
  Transport for London (TfL) will procure only zero-emission buses to achieve the aim of operating a 100 per cent zero-emission bus fleet in London by 2034.

• Stagecoach plans net zero-emission bus fleet by 2035, UK

  September 17, 2021
  Stagecoach plans to operate a net zero-emission bus fleet across the UK and to decarbonise its business by 70 per cent by 2035.

• SmartWindow trials start on tram-trains in Karlsruhe, Germany

  September 17, 2021
  Trials of the SmartWindow technology have started on tram-trains operated by Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (AVG) in Karlsruhe.

• AB Transitio signs loan agreement with EIB for new regional trains, Sweden

  September 17, 2021
  AB Transitio has signed a SEK480 million loan agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the procurement of 12 new double-decker electric multiple units (EMUs).

• Government of Czech Republic approves national ETCS rollout plan

  September 16, 2021
  The Government of the Czech Republic has approved a plan for the ETCS rollout across the nation, setting a goal of covering approximately 4,800 km of the 9,500-km network by 2030.

• SNC-Lavalin to provide test facility for rail signalling equipment in UK

  September 15, 2021
  SNC-Lavalin Group has signed a ten-year agreement with Network Rail to design, deliver, and operate a new National European Train Control System (ETCS) Test Verification, Validation, and Integration Laboratory.

• EBRD to increase investment in rail networks in western Balkan region

  September 14, 2021
  The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to increase its investment in rail networks across the western Balkan nations, including Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo, to assist the region in improving its connectivity while addressing climate change.

• Revised budget approved for Crown Bridges tramway in Helsinki, Finland

  September 14, 2021
  The City Council of Helsinki has approved the revised budget for the Crown Bridges tramway project, setting the estimated cost at EUR326 million.

• Additional funding support provided for bus operators in Scotland, UK

  September 14, 2021
  The Government of Scotland has approved an additional GBP42 million in support for bus operators, covering the period from October 4, 2021 to March 31, 2022.

• Passenger services start on Warsaw tram network extension to Winnica, Poland

  September 14, 2021
  Tramwaje Warszawskie, the operator of the tram network in Warsaw, has started passenger services on a 1.3-km-long extension of tram routes 2 and 17 from Nowodwory to Winnica.

• Volvo to supply 122 electric buses to Nobina, Sweden

  September 10, 2021
  Volvo Buses (Volvo) has secured three orders from Nobina, the transport operator in the Nordic region, for a total of 122 electric buses to be deployed across three cities in Sweden.

• Network Rail approves use of gauge survey automation technology, UK

  September 10, 2021
  Network Rail has approved the use of automation technology from Cordel, a subsidiary of Maestrano, for use in clearance gauging across the network.

• Three companies shortlisted for HS2’s depot in Washwood Heath, UK

  September 10, 2021
  High Speed 2 (HS2) Limited has confirmed the three bidders that have been shortlisted to build the HS2 network control centre and the rolling stock maintenance depot in Washwood Heath, close to Birmingham.

• Colas to construct Tram Line T3b extension in Paris, France

  September 10, 2021
  Colas has been selected by Régie autonome des transports parisiens (RATP) to construct a 3.2-km-long western extension of Tram Line T3b from Porte d’Asnières to Porte Dauphine.

• EMV ticketing pilot underway on all BVG’s buses in Berlin, Germany

  September 9, 2021
  Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), the public transport authority in Berlin, has extended its contactless EMV (Europay-Mastercard-Visa) payments pilot to all its 1,500 buses and eliminated cash acceptance on board the vehicles.

• Construction starts on new western tram route in Lausanne, Switzerland

  September 9, 2021
  Construction has commenced on a new tram route that will provide services in the western suburbs of Lausanne.

• Stadler delivers first electro-diesel trains for regional rail services in Norway

  September 9, 2021
  Stadler has delivered the first of 14 electro-diesel Flirt multiple unit trains for regional rail services in Norway.

• Stadler signs cooperation contract with Government of Ukraine; to supply additional metro trains for Tyne & Wear network

  September 9, 2021
  Stadler has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Ukrainian Railways/Ukrzaliznytsya (UZ), and the SERV Swiss Export Risk Insurance Agency for the development of rail services in Ukraine.

• London Underground’s Northern Line extension to start operations, UK

  September 8, 2021
  Transport for London (TfL) will start passenger services across the 3.2-km-long Kennington–Battersea Power Station section of the London Underground’s Northern Line extension on September 20, 2021.