Europe: Will France’s basic long-distance network regain its glow?
Long considered the poor relation of the country’s high-speed TGV, France’s conventional Intercités network is undergoing significant structural change aimed at boosting service quality and financial performance. [railjournal.com]
Australia: Start date revealed for Canberra’s light rail system
Canberra’s light rail system will start taking passengers on April 20 with free travel on Canberra’s public transport system on Easter weekend marking the launch of the system. [canberratimes.com.au]
UK: Aberdonian steam train service lets you travel from Edinburgh across the Forth Bridge in style
A new train service called ‘The Aberdonian’ has launched between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and it lets you travel between the two cities in style, pulled by the iconic steam engine 60163 Tornado. [edinburghlive.co.uk]
Africa: Cape Town to test Prasa’s new trains
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is ready to test its new trains for passengers in Cape Town ahead of the new fleet’s complete roll-out. [iol.co.za]
USA: A Tale of Two Subways: Why NYC’s ‘Cursed’ Lettered Lines Are Worse Than the Numbered Ones
Subway officials in New York City held a news conference recently to celebrate the system’s progress. The on-time rate for trains hit 76 percent, they boasted. But that figure masks a surprising disparity. [nytimes.com]
Europe: High-Speed Train Moves Too Fast For German Passenger
Police say the man had been drinking when he used a fire extinguisher to smash a glass door in the cab so he could tell the engineer to slow down. The train stopped so the passenger could be removed. [npr.org]
