FRENCH COMPANY TO BE V.R.E. OPERATOR:

[Guest ___]

FRENCH COMPANY TO BE V.R.E. OPERATOR: Virginia Railway Express plans to abandon its 17-year relationship with Amtrak and give an international company its first chance to dabble in the U.S. transportation industry. The VRE Operations Board has voted to award a five-year, $85.7-million contract to Keolis Rail Services America, the U.S. subsidiary of a France-based company. Although the board voted for the change, the Northern Virginia and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation commissions must give final approval. [united Transportation Union, 10-18-09, from Washington Post report]

[bikkuri bahn]

One of the partners in Keolis is SNCF.  Will be interesting to see how they perform.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keolis

[disturbman]

One can say that Keolis is the SNCF, the other partners are just investors.

 

The thing is, don't wait for many changes. They can only happen if the transport authority give the money for them.

[bikkuri bahn]

One can say that Keolis is the SNCF, the other partners are just investors.

 

Yes, quite.  I doubt the public pension plan of Quebec can offer any expertise in running passenger trains