Quintus Vosman

THE transport authority of the German state of Saxony Anhalt has revised its plans, first announced in July 2013, for a 14-year concession for diesel regional services.

DURING a Parliamentary meeting on railways, Dutch secretary of state for infrastructure, Mrs. Wilma Mansveld announced that the government is willing to provide funds for the electrification of the Maas Line from Nijmegen to Roermond via Venlo.

INTERNATIONAL high-speed operator Thalys launched a new twice-daily direct service between Amsterdam Central and Lille Europe on April 12.

THE DUTCH province of South Holland has selected Netherlands Railways (NS) and its German subsidiary Abellio Regio NRW to operate regional passenger services on the electrified line between Gouda – Alphen-aan-den-Rijn.

AT the request of manufacturer Bombardier, Netherlands Railways (NS) withdrew its entire fleet of Traxx F140 MS (class 186) multi-system locomotives from service on April 8 due to excessive pantograph wear.

THE CEO of Dutch infrastructure manager Prorail, Mrs Marion Gout-van Sinderen, tendered her resignation unexpectedly on April 3.

THE European Commission (EC) has initiated infraction proceedings against Italy and Austria for failing to implement correctly, fully, and on time European Union (EU) directives relating to their railways.

WITH passenger volumes on non-electrified lines in the Dutch province of Groningen increasing steadily, Arriva Netherlands has ordered additional intermediate sections for six of its Stadler GTW 2/6 dmus.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has announced plans to refurbish its fleet of first generation VIRM double-deck emus, the oldest of which entered service 20 years ago.