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    Original Travel Launches First Rail Brochure

    As the trend for rail travel continues to grow and in the month that marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, Original Travel has published its first ever train brochure. With countries across Europe reintroducing sleeper trains and investing heavily into rolling stock and rail infrastructure, train travel has never been better, easier or […] More

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    Omio and České dráhy announce strategic partnership, elevating European cross-border train travel

    Omio, the leading global multi-modal travel booking platform, and České dráhy, the National Czech Railway operator, today announced a significant partnership. This collaboration creates the opportunity for Omio travellers to book České dráhy services, including Regio, InterCity (IC) and EuroCity (EC) long-distance routes, plus high-speed train options (Railjet/Comfortjet). The addition of České dráhy’s comprehensive inventory […] More

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    Ffestiniog Travel Unveils Exciting New 2026 Rail Holiday Brochure

    Rail holiday specialist Ffestiniog Travel has launched its brand-new 2026 Rail Holidays of the World brochure, packed with inspiring escorted tours and journeys for those who love to explore the world by train. The new programme features a carefully curated mix of classic favourites and brand-new itineraries, offering travellers the chance to enjoy unique railway […] More

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    Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Unveils Special Train Wrap to Celebrate 70th Anniversary Disneyland Resort

    In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim, Calif., the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency invites guests aboard Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® to experience a whimsical limited-time train wrap rolling down the Southern California coast, designed to bring a bit of Disney joy to […] More

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    New rail service between Belgium and France

    Belgium’s Lineas and DFDS are joining forces to transport containers and trailers from the port of Gothenburg via Ghent at North Sea Port on rail to Lyon – and vice versa. It will create a connection between Sweden, Belgium, and France.DFDS transports cargo between the port of Gothenburg six times a week and its terminal at Ghent’s Sifferdok. This short sea service now connects with the intermodal train between Ghent and the Port Edouard Hérriot in Lyon. At the start, this train from Europe’s largest private rail freight operator, Lineas, runs three times a week. Starting in June, the frequency will be increased to five trips weekly.
    450 trains per year
    The shift of this cargo transport from road to rail between Ghent and the important industrial region of Lyon accounts for 450 trains per year and 800 trailers/containers.
    Multimodal port North Sea Port
    North Sea Port continues building on a sustainable multimodal port with this low-emission rail freight. “With the combined transport between Gothenburg, Ghent and Lyon, North Sea Port manages further to strengthen itself as a multimodal port in Western Europe,” said Daan Schalck, CEO of North Sea Port. Especially since cargo arrives in Ghent by road, seagoing vessel and barge from Antwerp, Rotterdam and Moerdijk.ADVERTISEMENT

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    Oxfordshire’s Move to Decarbonized Public Transport Gets a Boost with 159 New Electric Buses!

    The first vehicles in a fleet of 159 new battery electric buses are set to arrive in Oxfordshire in September, after an £82.5 million deal was sealed.Last March, Oxfordshire County Council was awarded £32.8 million from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
    Along with £6m from the council itself and £43.7m from bus companies Stagecoach and the Go-Ahead Group, which includes the Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, and City Sightseeing Oxford, the scheme will deliver the electric buses and the infrastructure to charge them.
    Following the signing of contracts between the bus companies and the manufacturers, and the council’s approval of trial traffic filters in Oxford to help reduce bus journey times by at least 10 per cent in the city, confirmation of Oxfordshire’s ZEBRA scheme has now been finalised.
    Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This is a huge boost in the move towards creating a sustainable, decarbonised public transport system, and improving air quality.
    “We believe that, along with other schemes proposed in the county, this new fleet of electric buses will transform our public transport system and encourage more people to travel by bus.”ADVERTISEMENTRachel Geliamassi, Managing Director for Stagecoach West, said: “We’re excited to be announcing this major milestone for Oxfordshire, which will be a major step forward in improving air quality across the region. This builds further on the major investment being made by Stagecoach across the country to support the transition to a zero emission bus fleet.
    “We look forward to working with our local authority partners on their plans to further decarbonise the city, which will help us to speed up journey times and attract more people out of their cars and on to reliable, sustainable public transport services.”
    Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “This ground-breaking plan and significant investment will radically improve air quality in Oxford. We look forward to continuing to work with key partners to deliver this ambitious project, which will make bus travel an even better option for getting around our city.”
    Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “We want to see a better bus network around Britain and that means reliable, affordable, clean buses, and we will do everything possible to decarbonise our transport network and support skilled jobs in next generation bus manufacturing across the UK.
    “We’ve already invested hundreds of millions of pounds to kick-start the rollout of zero emission buses nationwide, and it’s great to see Oxfordshire County Council, Stagecoach and Go-Ahead Group making use of our funding to transform its fleet to electric. This move will boost UK manufacturing, drive down emissions and improve bus services for people across the region.”
    Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Health and Transport, Oxford City Council, said: “Air pollution is a major cause of poor health in Oxford and cleaning up our bus emissions is an important step towards better air quality for everyone who lives, works, and visits Oxford.
    “Buses are a vital part of how many people travel around Oxford, especially the 30 per cent of Oxford residents who do not own a car. Let’s not underestimate the importance of the county’s proposed congestion-busting traffic measures in giving the bus companies the confidence to invest in these electric buses. Hopping on a brand new electric bus, with free WiFi and stop announcements for the partially sighted, will make bus travel a much more attractive option for everyone.
    “We are looking forward to seeing these new buses on Oxford’s roads as part of a zero emission bus network. It all helps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and fulfil our aim of cutting the city’s carbon footprint.”
    Transport is the largest contributor to nitrogen dioxide (NOx) emissions in Oxford, accounting for two thirds of the total emissions, with both diesel cars and buses contributing to roughly one third of the transport emissions each.
    The arrival of the 159 electric buses is expected to support a further drop in NOx levels that will help clean up Oxford and Oxfordshire’s air pollution, reduce noise pollution and help make Oxfordshire a net zero carbon county well before 2050.
    Oxfordshire was one of only 12 local authorities to successfully apply for ZEBRA funding and is one of the biggest schemes in the country.
    All the new buses are being manufactured in the UK and are expected to arrive by March 2024. It will be one of the largest orders outside London and will mean that most services across the Oxford Smartzone will be operated by battery electric buses.

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    Britain’s biggest bus operator Stagecoach to increase number of electric bus fleet by over 80%

    Stagecoach has confirmed today (28 November 2022) that it is planning to increase its electric bus fleet by over 80% in the next 12 months as it continues its journey towards being a net zero business.The country’s biggest bus and coach operator has published a new report outlining progress in 2021-2022 against the strategy it launched in 2021, Driving Net Zero: Better Places to Live and Work.
    The report details a programme of improvements delivered in 2021-2022 against its Planet, People, Prosperity and Governance targets. It includes a package of capital investment in new cleaner buses, measures to improve energy efficiency as well as improvements and investment for Stagecoach employees and local communities.
    Stagecoach is continuing with its plans to target a zero emission UK bus fleet by 2035, and has introduced new electric buses across many parts of the country, including one of Europe’s biggest investment in e-buses in Manchester. As part of these plans, Stagecoach will be increasing its electric bus fleet from 184 buses to 343 in the next year, representing an increase of 86%*. It will also be launching the first all-electric city bus networks in the UK in Inverness and Perth in 2023.
    Key highlights during 2021-2022 include:
    Protecting the PlanetADVERTISEMENTIntroduction of 75 new zero emission buses in regions across the UK, with 79 new e-buses in London during 2021-22. A further 159 new electric buses are planned to be introduced in 2023.Stagecoach will also start running 10 new hydrogen buses in Liverpool in spring 2023, the first of its kind for the region, operated through a partnership between Stagecoach, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Arriva.Delivered an overall 32% reduction in scope 1 & 2 CO2e emissions per passenger journeyHelped customers avoid nearly 20,000 tonnes of carbon emissions by providing them with more sustainable travel, rather than taking the carIntroduced 100% renewable electricity across the business, with new energy saving lighting in place in some locationsAchieved management ‘B’ rating in benchmark assessment from CDP, above the average for the road transport sectorRecycling mobile devices which has helped to fund the planting of over 3,000 treesOpening of a sustainable new £7m depot in Cwmbran in South Wales, which features a water recycling system, electric charging bays, intelligent heating, solar panels and a grass roof for rainwater harvesting.Investing in the health, safety and wellbeing of employees and customers
    The first bus operator to introduce low bridge alert technology across its fleet of 4,000 double decker busesNew employee networks in place as part of diversity and inclusion plans, giving employees the chance to help shape the agenda and bring about lasting changeInvestment in company’s first ever Head of Sustainability and Inclusion & Culture PartnerCaring for local communities
    Stagecoach ‘Giving for Good’ initiative launched to support charities and community causes, with new partnerships with four national charities and supporting hundreds of local charitiesNew UK customer contact centre opened, creating 60 new jobsEarlier this year, Stagecoach launched a sector-leading report which demonstrated the importance of government funding to match operator investment in new zero emission buses: https://www.stagecoachgroup.com/~/media/Files/S/Stagecoach-Group/Attachments/media/publication-policy-documents/zeb-report.pdf

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