First Private Train Debuts in Northern Italy

Italy's first private train connecting the northern cities of Turin and Milan debuted on Monday, also offering on-board shopping and dry cleaning services.
The red-yellow train, which belongs to privately-owned " Arenaways," reached Milan with its first passengers on board, including the founder and CEO of the company, Giuseppe Arena.
"Today is a historic day, being the first time that privately- owned cars are running on the tracks of our railways," Arena told Xinhua.
The first company to challenge the monopoly of Trenitalia, a part of state-controlled Ferrovie dello Stato, Arenaways was not allowed to make intermediate stops between Turin and Milan.
"We are to appeal to the Transport Ministry, the anti-trust panel and the European Commission for the right to pick up passengers between the two cities," Arena noted.
In order to promote the so-called "no stress" traveling concept, passengers were offered a number of services on board, from shoe cleaning to shopping.
"We thought of on-board shopping after a survey showed that most of our commuters are single," said service coordinator Patrizia De Bernardi.
"Customers can choose from a variety of first quality goods in a minimarket, or leave their laundry and pick it up either on the train or at different pick-up points around the city," she added.

source: CRI

Turkish, Italian Railways sign deal

The parties also agreed to act together in feasibility works, project designs, management and maintenance.

An agreement was signed between Turkish State Railways (TCDD) and the Italian Railways (FS).
The agreement signed by TCDD Director-General Suleyman Karaman and FS director-General Mauro Moretti in Rome envisages cooperation in high speed train, safety, signalization, training and infrastructure.
The parties also agreed to act together in feasibility works, project designs, management and maintenance.
TCDD and FS signed another agreement in December 11, 2009.

source: World Bulletin

Syrian, Italian Railway Cooperation

Damascus, - Syrian General Establishment for Railways on Wednesday signed a memo of understanding with Italian Railway to establish a joint company for railway studies with the aim of keeping up with the main and future developments of railway transport in Syria and the region.
The memo, singed by Director-General of General Establishment for Railways George Maqabri and Director- General of Italian State Railways Mario Moreti, includes establishing a joint company of railway studies, the task of which is to implement the planning studies including the expected movement of passengers and goods in the framework of the regional and international transport network.
It also works on developing all the technical and economic studies related to railways, infrastructure and technical systems in accordance with the actual needs in addition to supervising the executive works of the projects.
The two sides also agreed on preparing the studies of the book of technical specifications for railway projects and the specialized studies depending on planning transport through metro and tram networks inside cities and connecting them with outskirts trains.
In a statement to SANA, Transport Minister Yarub Badr considered the importance of signing the memo lies in paving the way to conduct joint studies for the railway projects and railway management in the region, as it also contributes to giving the partnership a chance to enter competitive conditions to implement railway projects in it.
He added that the study of connecting Damascus with Jordan is underway and the Ministry is waiting for the loan to be granted by the European Investment Bank to start implementation works.

source: Daypress