Esther Geerts

Rotterdam

Investigative Journalist at Schuttevaer

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Articles

DB ‘pauses’ 3 major construction projects: what does it mean?

1 week ago | railtech.com | Esther Geerts

Paused progress Published on 17-04-2025 at 12:06 Three high-profile rail infrastructure projects in Germany, including access routes to the cross-border Alpine Brenner Base Tunnel, are reportedly facing delays. Deutsche Bahn has paused planning work due to financing uncertainty, according to internal documents cited by Der Tagesspiegel.
French protesters on ‘train of anger’ call for reliable links to Paris

1 week ago | railtech.com | Esther Geerts

Campaigners boarded two symbolic protest trains between Clermont-Ferrand and Paris on 15 April to demand a more reliable and long-term rail connection. Local officials and several rail advocacy groups argue that the lines to central and southern France remain outdated, underused, and poorly connected.
Renfe follows Iryo and launches direct Barcelona - Sevilla AVE

1 week ago | railtech.com | Esther Geerts

Spanish state operator Renfe has announced 23 April as the starting date of a new direct AVE service connecting Barcelona and Sevilla in Southern Spain, without a transfer in Madrid. In this case the tables have turned, Renfe competitor Iryo was first to offer this service, with Renfe following more than a year later. Since new competitors entered the Spanish high-speed market in 2023, it was usually Renfe first having a service, which was followed by Iryo and Ouigo.
Hellenic Train office bombing claimed by Greek ‘guerrilla group’, no injuries

1 week ago | railtech.com | Esther Geerts

The offices of Greek national railway operator Hellenic Train were the target of a bomb attack last Friday night. The attack was claimed by a previously mostly unknown ‘urban guerrilla group’, referencing a class war and calling the 2023 Tempi train disaster a “state capitalist crime”. Injuries were avoided thanks to a warning that came just before the bomb attack.
One ticket to ride: Hungary sees passenger surge after fare reform

1 week ago | railtech.com | Esther Geerts

record ridership Published on 14-04-2025 at 10:24 One year after introducing a unified national fare system and more discounts, Hungary’s public transport saw a record-breaking rise in passenger numbers. According to national rail operator MÁV, over one billion trips were made with public transport in 2024, a historic high for the country.
ÖBB records stable profit and record passenger numbers, despite major floods

1 week ago | railtech.com | Esther Geerts

Local trains on the rise Published on 11-04-2025 at 13:06 Austria’s state railway company ÖBB ended 2024 with a small increase in pre-tax profit, despite severe flooding and economic pressures. Higher ridership in local transport and a record number of total passengers offset the losses of freight branch Rail Cargo Group and rising costs across the business.
CrossCountry to discontinue UK’s longest direct train route next month

2 weeks ago | railtech.com | Esther Geerts

end to 104-year service Published on 10-04-2025 at 17:10 The UK’s longest direct train service, connecting northeast Scotland to southwest England, will come to an end in May 2025. CrossCountry has confirmed that the direct Aberdeen to Penzance service, first launched in 1921, will no longer operate its full 774-mile (1245 km) route, reported The Independent.
Falling fares, rising tensions: a breakdown of Spain’s high-speed market

2 weeks ago | railtech.com | Esther Geerts

After nearly four years of an open market on Spain’s main high-speed lines, let’s break down what has happened with incumbent Renfe’s market share, passenger numbers and ticket prices, and how the newcomers are doing. Train ticket prices on Spain’s high-speed rail network have been falling, and when the first competitor to state-owned Renfe Ouigo joined on the network on 11 May 2021, that was one of the benefits that the advocators of market opening hoped for.
Slovak railways plans 1 billion euro fleet renewal, expects EU to fund it

2 weeks ago | railtech.com | Esther Geerts

a big if Published on 09-04-2025 at 12:15 Slovakia’s state rail operator ZSSK plans to renew its ageing fleet with a one billion euro upgrade ahead of market liberalisation. But there’s a big if: the entire programme hinges on securing external funding, mainly from EU sources. Would you like unlimited access to all Premium content?
Stadler Flirt fleet damage in Norway blamed on documentation errors

2 weeks ago | railtech.com | Esther Geerts

Engine breakdowns Published on 08-04-2025 at 12:19 Outdated documentation led to damage in 16 Flirt trainsets in eastern Norway, said Norwegian operator Vy to news outlet Romerikes Blad. ‘Serious defects’ in bogies led to several engine breakdowns between 2021 and 2023 because maintenance was carried out with outdated documentation.