Etihad rail connects to Sharjah
Etihad Rail, the UAE’s national rail operator, has expanded its line to encompass the city of Sharjah and is building a new passenger service station.
Sharjah is the third most populous city in the UAE and has connections to other northern emirates.
Etihad Rail expects 14 000 daily passengers to travel on the line on weekdays.
Key developments within Japan’s rail network
Hanyu Railway in Japan is launching a new PRiVACE carriage that can be reserved on its express and semi-express trains on its Kyoto line. These seats can be reserved for ¥500 (R63) on top of the usual train fare, which depends on the length of the trip.
The seats are equipped with partitions, reading lights and power sockets. The premium carriage provides more leg-room for passengers as well as complimentary WiFi. This is the train line’s first premium seat service.
Meanwhile, Matsuyama City’s Botchan train, a replica of a historic steam locomotive, is resuming operations between Matsuyama and the Dogo Onsen, a hot spring resort town, on March 20.
The train previously discontinued its services due to staff shortages. However, in December, with the help of the Japanese government, the train operator Iyotetsu Group was able to recover its losses and secure new staff members.
The train will operate on weekdays and every holiday, excluding the year-end and New Year holidays.
UK’s Northumberland Line returns
The historic Northumberland Line connecting Newcastle to Ashington is marking the return of its passenger operations after a 60-year hiatus. With a £180 million (R4,31 billion) investment from the government’s Restoring Your Railways initiative, the government restored the line’s in-demand passenger services following years of freight operations.
The Restoring Your Railways initiative, aimed at reintroducing passenger services, will bolster social and economic ties and improve sustainable transport options by providing an efficient alternative to road transport.
